The water is getting warmer with visibility at about 30 to 60 feet after you get though the green layer on top. Most of the bigger fish are hanging on the taller structures like bridge spans and fully intact ships but the groupers have been on hard bottom more than the wrecks. Speaking of wrecks, we just sunk a new one call the “El Dorado” about 13 miles off shore. You may remember it from the storm damage in the bay. This boat was the one someone painted a Christmas tree and the words Happy holidays on as it laid on her side in the bay. After some cleaning by the local dive shops and some very helpful volunteers, she was laid to rest in about 100 foot of water for us to use as a dive and fishing site adding to the more than 300 artificial reefs that we have in the Panama City area.
With red snapper season opening on the 11th there will be increasingly more boats out there so be careful running though the pass. The weather is normally pretty good during June. Don’t be afraid to go out if the forecast calls for rain because most of the weather forecast are for the land/beach and not out to sea and let’s face it, you are going to get wet anyway and it always rains in the mid-afternoon here in the panhandle. Be on the lookout for the lionfish tournaments. You can win some cool stuff and they are a lot of fun. The tournaments help to get rid of the nuisance lionfish which in turn should increase our game fish like snapper and grouper.
Safety Tip: remember to check anchored boats for a dive flag and to use EXTREME CAUTION within 300 feet of a dive boat. I have already had a few close calls with boaters not paying attention this year.
As always, Plan your Dive and Dive your Plan.
Thanks for reading.
CAPT. JAMES TEW
Kitchen Pass Dive & Fishing Charters
850-896-6476