[dropcap]S[/dropcap]pring has finally arrived in Panama City Beach — and just in time! Anglers have been losing sleep over the thought of the cobia run kicking off and I feel their pain. But first, let’s start in the back waters and work our way out from there. The redfish have been being caught on the flats and are running in good size schools. Many that I’ve seen have been sporting over a hundred fish in a school. They are hitting top water baits, when they are feeding, as well as spoons and soft-plastics. Of course, they won’t turn down a live bait of your choice for sure.
The Speckled trout are a little pickier, but as the water heats up, so will the action. They are being caught around the mouths of the bayous and creeks as they head out of their winter hideouts. The sheepshead are showing up to spawn on the inshore and bay wrecks, and some good limits have already been caught. They can be found around the jetties in St. Andrews State Park, as well as the trash piles and other shallow structure in the bay. Use a Carolina Rig with a small hook and weight, just enough to get it down to them. I hope you’ve been getting your cobia gear ready! Tie those jigs and re-spool your line because the time has come! If you aren’t accurate enough to throw jigs at them, grab a couple of live eels and put them in ice water so they will slow down enough to handle them. When you spot a cobia just get it in his general area and he will see that eel go nuts when it hits that warm water. The rest is up to you and your back, so hang on! The Spanish mackerel are showing up in big schools on the beach and provide plenty of action when the other bites are slow. Anything from a spoon to a Christmas tree rig will do just fine.
Offshore– The amberjack are biting well over the wrecks as well as the bee liners and other snappers. You will certainly catch lots of big Red snapper and grouper, but they can’t be kept until later in the summer season. Check your regulations for both because they only overlap each other for a few days. Also, some big cobia have been caught on the offshore wrecks ahead of the cobia run, but it won’t be long before they are all on the beach. Remember to get your family and friends involved in the outdoors and teach them to respect our woods and water, especially the kids, so that they can help preserve it for future generations to enjoy. The kids will thank you for it later. Now get out on the water and get that rod bent!