The Top-Water Bite is "ON" in Panama City Florida
Capt. Rob Womble
May 6, 2008
Panama City - Saltwater Fishing Report
Finally the weather has decided to warm up and stay that way. We have had some mild winds combined with strong tides and clear waters. These conditions usually make it a little bit tougher on the top-water bite, but lately the Trout and Reds are still hammering the top-water plugs. I know the Reds have been getting hammered with the tournament guys over the last couple weeks but you can still find some un-molested schools here and there. The Trout bite is still on fire and I will be posting a report next week on just Trout and the techniques we are using to catch them.
This week Capt. Todd and I ran a couple of double charters. We had a long time customer Eric and his wife April come down with some of their friends. Last time they came down April out fished Eric to the point of embarrassment. This time Eric not only out fished April but everyone else on the trip as well. Great job Eric. Capt. Todd took all the guys in his boat and I got to take the girls. I think I got the better deal.
April and the girls with some Trout. Good job but the guys did a little better. Still, it doesn't matter....they looked a lot better than the guys.
Eric and the boys did a great job and limited out on trout and reds. Thats because Capt. Todd didn' thave to run for cover every time someone in his boat tried to cast. I did manage not to get hooked, although they tried.
Had a great time and we are looking forward to seeing them again in June.
Cajun Thunders are still the safe bet right now. If you haven't figured out the walk the dog technique on that top-water plug yet……try switching up to the Cajun Thunder popping cork rigged with a 1/8oz jig head. The high-water Reds are going to be in the grass or on the shallow water sandbars. The low-water Reds will be in the potholes, prop scares and canals. The low-water Reds will be extremely shallow. You should be OK if you have a shallow draft boat. Poll in on them or get out and walk, point is be quite. Just don't try to park a 22 foot bay boat on top of their head. Funny but I've seen guides try to do just that. Either way a light weight gold spoon will normally talk them into giving up.
As always, good luck on the water and watch out for the other guy.
Capt. Rob Womble & Capt. Todd Jones
Back Bay Adventures
Panama City Fishing Forecast:
The water is going to continue to get warmer. Soon the live bait will be thick on the flats as well as in the marsh. This will make the morning top-water bite even better than it is now.
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