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Florida Fishing Report for Panama City & Destin
Capt. James Pic
June 25, 2004
Panama City - Saltwater Fishing Report
Panama City/N.W. Florida
Fishing continues to be very good this year. Even though there has been a lot of rain it hasn't seemed to have much of an effect on the clarity of the water. This is turning out to be one of the best years I have seen for bay fishing.
Starting offshore, the grouper and snapper bite has been very good the entire year and we look for this to contiue. If you get a bottom fishing trip, whether a party boat or private, you should have plenty of action and bring home some fish. Dolphin have been cruising the weed lines and any floating debris in good numbers. The bonita are out there but the big run is still a month or so away. Someone asked me recently about the best way to catch dolphin besides trolling. Once you locate them they will usually hit the first thing you throw at them but then they seem to smarten up. If this happens change your lure and continue to change each time they quit biting. Of course if you have live bait this is usaually not a problem. I truly believe that fly fishermen do bette with the little chickens than other fishermen due to the presentation and the size of the bait. When they are schooling and feeding, even a novice fly fisherman can catch them.
The bays are flushing well even though the old pass has closed. There is a rumor that this will be reopened sometime in the next year or two and this time some steps will be taken to keep it open. The big schools of reds have busted up we are mostly seeing ones, twos and threes in a group. There has been disagreement on when they bite. Of course the ones that hang around the mouths of the creeks and bayous will become more active with an outgoing tide thats what those fish do. We have been fishing some schools that are actice at high tide. These fish are so close to the beach that if you can't hit the edge when you cast--your to far away! Trout are in thier rugular summer pattern, shallow water morning and afternoon, moving deeper with the sun.
Big spanish, blues and ladyfish are all over the bay which also makes for good action. There are a lot of legal grouper and black snapper.
I have sold my building and am closing out all of the inventory in the store so come by and take advantage of the sale. I just go tire of being married to a business it's that simple. I will continue to guide and be able to spend more time writing fishing reports and helping people become better fishermen. If you want a guide trip my new # is 850-215-5578 after mid July. One last thing. If your looking for infomation about fishing in Panama City, don't ask a guide from Ft. Walton or Destin--they probably don't know the waters. Go to a shop like mine or join a fishing club like the Bay County Speckled Trout Club. Let the locals help you. Thats like asking me to give you info about fishing Siberia.
Good Luck, JP
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