Spring is finally here and just in time! Anglers have been losing sleep over the thought of the cobia run kicking off and I feel there pain. But first, let's start in the back waters and work our way out from there.
Bay and Backcountry fishing- With the New Year upon us, and some unseasonably warm weather last month, Mother Nature has settled into her normal temperature patterns and the fish have moved into their favorite winter haunts.
Well, December is here, and after a few decent cold spells in November, the fish have begun to converge on their favorite winter hideouts. The Speckled trout are schooling around the mouths of the bayous, canals, creeks, and rivers preparing for the winter haul in the backwaters.
Panama City Beach (PCB) offers anglers 4 great fishing piers to choose from - 3 that reach far out into the Gulf of Mexico, and 1 that offers anglers a chance to cast their line into the Grand Lagoon for some redfish, trout, or flounder. The two longest fishing piers are the identical Russell-Fields Pier and M.B. Miller Pier, a.k.a. as the City Pier and the County Pier. Each stretches 1,500 feet out, which makes them the longest piers in the Gulf of Mexico. The cost to fish from either pier is $6.00 and includes your daily fishing license. November is a great month to fish with the gorgeous weather and cooler water temperatures. Kings and Spanish can still be had during the month, fishing with frozen cigar minnows or live bait fish caught off the pier using a Sabiki rig. Also, larger flounder, redfish, and pompano can be caught using live shrimp, jigs and buck-tails, but your best bet for pompano is sandfleas, preferably live.
This is a great month for fishing in Panama City. The water has cooled down, the Gulf is typically flat this time of year, and the fish in the bays are hungry and fattening up for winter. If you are new to kayak fishing or want to connect with some other anglers, I encourage you to check out PCKFA (Panama City Kayak Fishing Assoc.) This is a free club that meets twice a month for an informative social, and then to fish as well. If you are on Facebook, you can find their page by just typing in PCKFA. This is an active group with lots of questions answered and fishing reports to be read.