Specks, reds, spanish, blues, flounder and grouper.
Capt. James Pic
May 3, 2009
Panama City - Saltwater Fishing Report
To say this week wasn't interesting... we had a lot of action. There are a lot of fish and a lot of big fish in the bay now. Some days more than others. Seems like all spring we have been battling fresh water run-off, tanic water and wind. The water is getting back to normal and things are great when the wind isn't howling.
There are a lot of fish here to catch. During the last few days I watched various clients lose some nice fish. As least two trout in the 5lb. range were to the boat and shook off. Had something really big yesterday make a couple of runs but broke off prior to seeing what it was. My best guess would be a big jack. This morning, we put a 19" grouper in the boat. Within a couple of cast hooked one that felt easily 12 to 15lbs. I helped the angler move him off of his hole and. Based on my experience he was easily over ten. I handed the rod back to the young man and the grouper made a run back to his hole and broke us off. Yes, a lot of good fish were lost this week.
On the other hand, we are still beating the crap out of them in East Bay.....60 to 80 fish a morning is not uncommon. Most of the fish are just under size with the more talented fishermen putting keepers up to five or six pounds in the boat. Been picking up some reds here and there with the moving tide.
In other spots there are plenty of big blues. Found some fish in the 5lb. range and bigger. Catching more jacks this year than normal which is always a good fight. The spanish are easing into the bay here and there. When the wind isn't howling and you can get onto the places the spanish hang the fishing is good. We also caught a couple of nice flounder this week.
I'm going to concentrate on the spec, spanish, reds and grouper bite over the next few weeks and challenge anyone to come down and try to land one those big grouper on 8# line. It's a ball and not impossible. Fishing is good, now is a good time to be here.
Here are a few highlights from the week:
Jack
Spec
Flounder
End of the trip with a little of everything
Big blue
Just short grouper
Nice spanish
Panama City Fishing Forecast:
I look for the water to continue clearing and the fishing to improve. All of the players have arrived. Had some lady fish on the fly earlier in the week which is always a good time. We are coming into some of the best fishing of the year over the next 30 days. I hav days available and would love to put you on the boat and some fish.
Target Species:
All the players are here. All species are available.
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