The water is great with temps in the upper 70s to low 80s on the surface, and mid to upper 70s at the bottom. The fishing is great if you can find the “out of the way” places. The way I found most of my private places is, as I’m running to one of my public numbers, I watch the bottom sounder for bumps and fish on the bottom. I mark that area and dive it to see what it is, or go back and dive it later. More often than not, it turns out to be a great spot and I limit out on everything that day; sometimes on the first dive.
In mid-June, my son, a friend from the Tyndall AFB Dive Club and I limited out on red snapper very quickly and saw lots more worth shooting. It’s always great to be on the water with friends and family. If you have a boat, get out there, and if you don’t, find someone that does and get out there! There are many great charters in the Panama City area it’s hard to go wrong.
One thing you must learn when spearfishing is to identify the fish for type and size limits underwater. It’s easy to identify them above the water, but not so easy underwater because you don’t have most colors at depth, and water also magnifies the size of the fish so be sure not to kill something you can’t keep.
This month’s safety tip is to have multiple safety devices on you while diving, such as a safety sausage, reflective mirror, flashlight, whistle, and above all, preplanned communication through hand/noise signals with the person staying on the boat while you dive.
Get out there and have fun with family and friends on the water! Always PLAN YOUR DIVE AND DIVE YOUR PLAN. Thanks for reading.
CAPT. JAMES TEW
Kitchen Pass Dive & Fishing Charters
850-896-6476