Panama City report June 13,20,27

[fishin jones]

I have been down to PCB the past 3 weekends, all with some results

June 13th-

Just went down for the first time to see where everything was, didnt take my rod. Went to St. Andrews state park and scoped out the jetti. When I got over the dune the first thing I saw was a cigarette boat race with the chase helicopter.
http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/8205/img5284w.jpg (http://img4.imageshack.us/i/img5284w.jpg/) http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/img5284w.jpg/1/w320.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img4/img5284w.jpg/1/)

Went out on the jetti, saw some people catching small grouper and hardtails.

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/8418/img5287m.jpg (http://img146.imageshack.us/i/img5287m.jpg/) http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/img5287m.jpg/1/w320.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img146/img5287m.jpg/1/)
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Decided to go walk along the docks at the marinas, ended up talking to a Capt and he said he'd charge me half to fill the spot on the next boat out...I agreed. Did a spontaneous 5 hour trip to catch some snapper, grouper and a bonita. Good eatin too
http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/5663/img5314c.jpg (http://img222.imageshack.us/i/img5314c.jpg/) http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/img5314c.jpg/1/w240.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img222/img5314c.jpg/1/)
http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/8924/img5325.jpg (http://img44.imageshack.us/i/img5325.jpg/) http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/img5325.jpg/1/w240.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img44/img5325.jpg/1/)


Romantic Gourmet dinner for myself


http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/7552/img5332p.jpg (http://img4.imageshack.us/i/img5332p.jpg/) http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/img5332p.jpg/1/w320.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img4/img5332p.jpg/1/)




June 20

Me and my buddy Ryan go back to St Andrews, catch a few hardtails, walk the inlet and caught some of these long fish..Fish both sides of the hathaway bridge with no luck

http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/853/img5334d.jpg (http://img39.imageshack.us/i/img5334d.jpg/) http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/img5334d.jpg/1/w240.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img39/img5334d.jpg/1/)




June 27

We leave Alabama at 0300. Goal is to be the people standing there fishing saying you should have been here an hour ago. Pull up to our spot at 0445- (still dark) that we found on Google Maps before you go over the bridge on the Tyndall parkway. Area is FISHY, bait everywhere, boils...poppin cork w/ doa shimp- no good....super spook jr-no good....6 different varietys of gulp on 6 jig heads....hard swim bait- no good.

Some guys putting in their boat said they usually fish the other side of the bay directly across from us,(our goal was to say YOU should have been here an hour ago- but WE got told YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN OVER THERE!!) we did not a do a good recon prior to our arrival so we figured we could not get onto tyndall. Sure enough we could, found a parking spot and started wading. Big beautiful grass flat, redfish tailing, bait working.

Before long Ryan catches a nice trout on the fly rod,

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/5527/img5342i.jpg (http://img222.imageshack.us/i/img5342i.jpg/) http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/img5342i.jpg/1/w320.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img222/img5342i.jpg/1/)

shortly after that catches a small redfish.
http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/4858/img5343w.jpg (http://img517.imageshack.us/i/img5343w.jpg/) http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/img5343w.jpg/1/w320.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img517/img5343w.jpg/1/)

Im still struggling, no luck...finally on the super spook I catch 2 of these fish..WHAT ARE THEY?? They hit WAY out there, and sure chased that bait hard. Fun to watch and catch.

http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/8964/img5344.jpg (http://img33.imageshack.us/i/img5344.jpg/) http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/img5344.jpg/1/w320.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img33/img5344.jpg/1/)

Ended up going back to St. Andrews, current strong...hooked into a spanish but bit me off because i wasnt using a wire leader.


All in all its been a fun experience down there, by the end of summer we will have figured it all out about where to go and when and how to catch them.

[Kamurf]

Hey Jones! I am from PC. That fish you were talking about that you dont know what it was is a Jack Crevalle. Lately, I have done good around the Tyndall area with live shrimp and DOA's under a popping cork. The best spot I have been is on the way to the hathaway bridge straight across from the St Andrew Marina on the opposite side there are some flats that are full of reds, trout, mackrel. I even got a 5' black tip shark near sunset....on 10 lb test.

[Shakespeare]

Nice report and pics!!! Keep 'em coming. *Cheers*

[chumhead]

The "long fish" was a Lady Fish (AKA: Poor mans tarpon since they usually jump a lot).

I see a lot of people fishing from just under the Tyndall side of the bridge, and we usually fish for the big bull redfish about 6 supports out from there with great success, I think the smallest redfish we've ever caught there was about 36 inches, on up to the 50+ inch bruisers, but you will need a boat or kayak to get out to them.

I'd still highly recommend the area off of Beach Drive, you can park your car at a small park at Lake Caroline and walk over to the Bay Side (watch for traffic). Nice grass flats and have heard of nice catches of trout and redfish with the occasional grouper and even a couple of keeper cobia over the years by people wade fishing.

We've gotta get our schedules together....took my neighbor out fishing yesterday, Here is a link to my report http://carolinaskiffowner.com/showthread.php?p=64865#post64865 .....he's a redfish guide that is branching out now that he has a larger boat (carolina skiff....of course), and seemed to enjoy our trip. He offers VERY economical trips, and if you are interested I can put you in touch with him.

chumhead

[fishin jones]

Hey thanks for the responses fellas, and the fish descriptions! The lady fish sure do jump around a lot.

We're really excited about getting to know the PCB area, I know next weekend we'll be back in the area.

KA- when you say across do you mean all the way on the west side of the bay, with the marina being on the east side?

Chum- I will definitely check out that area, when you said beach drive I thought you were talkin over on the beach side, like where all the hotels were! Should have asked!! And yes, workin out schedules would be fantastic!! Its really looking like weekends are going to be the safest bet. If we cant work it out then we'll hook up with your neighbor.


Off to the OBX this weekend

[chumhead]

Sorry, should have been more specific. Beach Drive is the road that pretty much follows most of the shoreline between the PC Marina and St Andrews Marina.

You've already got a spot (or two) on the boat for my next weekend trip, just don't know exactly when that will be (most likely July 18/19th). If you get any time off during the week, it never hurts to check with me on my work schedule. You've got my number.

chumhead

[captjim]

congrats,and enjoy, looks like your doing great.i like the way your fishing (fly).