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Florida Fishing Report for Panama City & Destin
Capt. James Pic
February 7, 2008
Panama City - Saltwater Fishing Report
Panama City/NW Florida
OFF SEASON SPECIAL: DO A HALF DAY AT REGULAR PRICE GET THE NEXT HALF DAY, HALF OFF
DUCK SEASON
Now that the season has come to an end, the time of reflection and memories has begun. All in all it was a good season. Thank you to all the customers that hunted with me this year. There were more ducks than the last 4 or 5 years but not quite the numbers of the early thru late 90's. Hopefully those days will return.
There were lots of good days. The most we took in one day was 23 with some 19, 17, lots of 13 bird days. There were a lot of redheads and bluebills this year with a few goldeneyes and puddlers scattered here and there. The few times we hunted the lake we did well although there seem to be less ducks than usual. Guess that's what happens when you have one duck per acre and 30 hunters shooting at him.
The were a couple of very memorable moments this year. One was when a flock of pintails flew 30 feet over the blind. I was drinking coffee and my customers emptied their guns without cutting a feather. Another was when the same bluebill kept circling around and flying within the decoys three times. Barrels were hot with spent shells floating every where but on a feather was cut and the bird eventually (by miracle) flew off. Can't wait till next year.
FISHING
Steamplant Canal/Warren Bayou is the place to be during February. With the closed season for trout not many people venture out this time of year. It's catch and release for everything with a lot of species of fish. Last year in March we had twenty pound bull rays eating white clouser minnows up there. The were actually eating the flies.
Sometime in March the spanish run will start and good catches of spanish and trout on a full day of fishing are not uncommon with me.
For the fly fisherman the spanish run is a fun time. Starting toward the end of March I challenge my clients each year to bring their five and six weight rods for spanish. Every now and then one of those 5lb fish will be mixed in the early season schools. Reds are fun but the only fish that I have ever hooked on the fly that comes close to a big spanish is a bonefish.
GETTING READY FOR SEASON
I pulled out and seperated the many boxes of fishing equipment and tackle thrown together over the last couple of years and to my suprise had a lot of things that I had no idea were in those boxes. This time of the year is a good time to check your reels and line. Put a dab of oil here and there with some new line. It's always fun to get ready for the new year making sure you are ready for anything. Reds and trout are fun but there are a lot more out there than that. A couple of years ago, during the spring, the bay filled up with bonita for three days. If I hadn't be ready and diverse for my clients they would have missed out on some big fun.
This year I'm going to have pointers and tips for fishermen with each report...or try to. This report I want to talk about steel leader.
The only time I can think of to use a steel leader when fishing in the bay is shark fishing. Otherwise I always reccomend using flourocarbon leaders. Depending on what my target species I will use 15lb for trout and reds and up to 60lb for spanish. We even try to use 80lb and circle hooks for sharks in the bay. Flourocarbon versus steel is a no brainer and using flourocarbon will increase your catch ratio.
Next report we'll talk about catching spanish.
Hope everyone had a great offseason. Remember, fish with a competant guide and never fish with a part timer.
See you on the water.
Capt. James Pic
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