Fishing Panama City Beach, FL
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Here's a fine eating Gag Grouper. |
The Black Grouper is one of the main target species found in the Panama city area. They reside on many of the artificial reefs and hard bottom areas. The Black Grouper provides a good fight, but be quick about getting them off the bottom before they fray your line on the bottom structure.. Our 8 hour trips are best to target these fish, as we tend to travel longer to get to the good spots. Normally we run 3-9 miles offshore on these trips in the warmer months.
The Black Grouper is considered excellent.
The 2009 season opens April 1st and remains open until mid February 2010.
Red Grouper
The Red Grouper is another of the grouper family that we will target on our bottom fishing trips.
Found mostly on hard bottom areas their tendency to take natural dead baits sometimes makes them an easier target than the black grouper. At this time, the limit is one per person per day.
Spanish Mackerel
One of the main target species that migrate through the Panama City area each year are Spanish Mackerel. The Spanish migration which normally starts the last week of March through the first week of April is the mark of the beginning of the fishing season. You can catch the Spanish Mackerel by throwing jigs, trolling, and casting small live bait. Spanish are very aggressive and willing to hit just about anything, putting up a great fight on light tackle.
The table fair for the Spanish Mackerel is considered good.
Red Snapper
The Red Snapper is by far one of the most popular fish in the Gulf's panhandle region. State and Federal seasons are now in place and limit the open season for Red Snapper. The State season (out to 9 nm) is open from June 1st through September 30th with a limit of two fish, per day, per person. Federal waters (beyond 9 nm) are open from June 1st with closure dependant upon the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) with also a bag limit of two per person. These fish can be caught on both the 6 and 10 hour trips. Once the federal waters close, we will downsize the tackle and fish the artificial reefs and hard bottom areas in state waters only on both the 6 and 10 hour trips.
King Mackerel
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King Mackerel (AKA kingfish) are frequent visitors to our waters and a worthy target on many fishing charters. |
Either caught by trolling or drifting live baits, these fish are really fun to catch.
Known for their drag screaming runs they have become a popular target throughout the Gulf of Mexico. Our run of Kings show in late spring / early summer and are around until the water cools. We also catch kings while flat lining baits on our bottom fishing trips.
Wahoo
Wahoo in our area are another summertime treat Not a fish that we normally target, it is possible to target these with good success when conditions are right.
Vermilion Snapper
Known locally as "Beeliner" or "Chili pepper" these small Snapper are abundant on our reefs and wrecks. Though not one of panhandles "glamour" species they are easy to catch and a lot of fun on light tackle. Prepared "Caribbean" style when fresh they also make a nice meal.
Amberjack
Caught on wrecks and reefs all along the Gulf coast they have a well deserved reputation for being one of the toughest fish in these waters. Nicknamed "reef donkeys," they inhabit our coastal waters from inshore out to 300 feet and sometimes deeper. It usually takes only one big one for most to say "that's enough for me".
Flounder
We also offer night time flounder gigging trips(May-October). These trips are arranged by the tides, depending on the day you'd like to go we'll use the tide tables to decide the best time. These trips normally run 9pm-2am or if the tides run later we'll start at midnight and flounder till daylight. We also have a great winter time flounder fishery offshore during the cold months, these fish can be targeted with great success in winter by fishing the near shore wrecks and artificial reefs.
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Redfish like this one are abundant in the waters surrounding Panama City Beach, FL. |
Other reef species we catch; Mangrove Snapper locally known as Black Snapper, Grey Triggerfish and Lane Snapper.
Redfish
St. Andrews Bay holds a population of Redfish year round. Whether it be throwing artificial to feeding fish on the grass and mud flats or drifting live bait in the pass, these fish are another one of the main targets on our bay trips.
Redfish in the bay system come in all sizes and can be caught by many different methods. Sight fishing tailing Reds on the shallow water flats can be very exciting, not much compares to being able to watch them turn and take a properly presented bait or lure.
Cobia
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Here's a Cobia that often frequents our waters and is also excellent eating. |
Starting in mid March, the Cobia migration of the panhandle waters is known worldwide. On our near shore trips we'll ride the gulf beach and sight fish for these fish as they make their move to the summer grounds.
Known for their power and determined fight they are one of the most prized catches along the gulf beach. Being curious in nature with no fear of boats they lend themselves to be the tops of sight fishing targets.
With Cobia being the main target on our near shore charters they are not the only game in town, as we cruise the gulf beach we'll also take time to throw jigs and lures to the often abundant schools of other game fish that roam the beach.
Pompano
Along the worlds most beautiful beaches around Panama City, Pompano show up each spring. Caught both in the bay and gulf, both by accident and sight fishing, Pompano are highly prized for their food value.
Pompano can be caught along the beaches by sight fishing with special jigs. They are great fighters and some days will readily eat anything you throw at them. There are also a lot of accidental catches in the bays being caught on anything from live shrimp to artificial jigs. No matter how you land one of these fish you can bet they will put a smile on all who come to dinner.
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