panama city April 2010 slow start but in full swing now

Report Date: April 9, 2010

Hey everyone

Well the fish are finally showing up. Inshore; Good numbers of cobia are being caught and it is getting better every day. The best way to catch these fish is to drive up and down the beach looking for the fish heading west. Use a live eel or a jig pink or orange are always good colors to try but make sure to bring lots of different baits if the fish refuse one bait try another and another until you find one he wants. I have not had a lot of time to chase these fish this year, as I have been offshore chasing grouper or stuck on the jetty chasing sheep head and Spanish due to the wind. The run was a little late this year so expect the fish to be here later than normal. The sheep head are all over the jetty use a small hook and a live shrimp Or fiddler crab and as small of a weight as you can with a 16 to 20 inch leader in the 20-Pound range. You may even find a few over sized red fish mixed in with some black drum showing up to. The Spanish are almost jumping in the boat there are so many of them. Use a small spoon or a bubble rig with a heavy leader 30 to 50 pound range. I like to chum them up with live bait but the bait is still not here or is to small to use. Expect that to change as the water warms. The trout fishing is still a bit spotty as the fish move from the backcountry. Look for the trout fishing to pick up soon as they get ready to spawn. The pompano have started also this is a fun fish to target so get some sand flees and head to the beach for some great surf fishing.

Offshore;
The grouper bite has been good. We got two nice ones on opener and a few on some of the other trips. But as the water warms I expect the fish to start moving into deeper water. The amber jack have just started chasing the jigs but have been slow to do so once the bait gets here they should turn on in a big way. The trigger fish are on the feed getting good numbers on every trip you have to wade through them to find the 14 inch keepers but just keep fishing and throwing fish back until you get the big ones, a small circle hook and some squid will do the trick. Snapper have been a little slow but the ones we are getting are big many have been in the 10 to 20 pound range we had one on opener day of grouper season that I think was well over 25 pounds but as we pulled it up an fwc officer pulled up and before I could get any pics he made us let it go. My client did manage to snap a shot of it with me but it was on his camera and he has not sent me the pics yet hint hint. As for the kings they have not showed up yet. I expect them to start showing up around the end of April but the way this season is going It could be later I will let you know when I get the first one on the boat. Until then bent poles and tight lines to all !!!!!!!
Captain Scott Fitzgerald

Back to Main Fishing Report Page

Call Now
To Book Your Charter:
850-867-2952