Panama City Florida Winter Time Trout and Redfish!
Capt. Rob Womble
October 29, 2008
Panama City - Saltwater Fishing Report
OK so it's been a couple weeks since our last report but we have a good excuse. We have been hunting and fishing. The cold weather has brought great fishing and some really good hunting with it. Last year we had to wait until the end of December for the trout to get into the full on winter pattern but this year (so fare) the trout are already there. We have been tearing up the trout. It's really simple to catch them this time of year. Go to any narrow stretch of deep water (creeks or intra coastal water ways) and use your favorite lures. Jigs, sinkers, suspending, soft baits and even top water from time to time will work great right now. The Hotwater canal in North Bay is a great place to load up on some fish but be careful, this area will be closed to keeping fish starting Nov 1st. Now you can try to fish right on the line if you want but the location of the line is normally decided upon by the FWC officer checking your boat so to be safe stay outside the two points. If you want to go further into the hotwater canal for catch and release action try not to bring any keepers with you from other parts of the bay. This may cause you some unwanted attention when the catch-man checks your live-well. Right now is awesome trout fishing so get out there and load up, Just keep in mind the limit is 5 per person per day. Each trout has to be more than 15inch and less than 20inch. One of those trout can be over 20 inch.
For you fly fishing nuts out there this is the time of the year you have been waiting for . We will start seeing the redfish grouping up in schools very soon. As the water gets a little cooler and the winter tides fall a bit further the redfish will have no choice but to be exposed on the shallows. This is when you want to get out in that canoe or kayak because the reds are going to be in extremely shallow water. If you have a flats boat that pulls less than 7 inch draft you should be fine. Grab a pair of waders and get out and stalk these guys. It will work if you are quite. Good luck!
As always god luck on the water and in the woods.
Capt. Rob Womble & Capt. Todd Jones
Back Bay Adventures
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