Florida Fishing Report for Panama City & Destin

Panama City/N. W. Florida After the best spring ever for reds the bays are starting to settle in for the summer pattern. Just in the last few days a lot of new fish have come into the bay. Different types of trips yeild different types of action. Those just wanting numbers on topwater and fly are experiencing five pound spanish and blues big hard tails and ladyfish. In a four hour trip we are catching in the neighborhood of 100 fish or more. On the cloudy days the topwater action last late into the morning. It's been common to catch to fish at time on artificial one on each hook. My preference for lure selection are Tiny Torpedoes, Banana Boats and Clown colored twitch baits. Trout and reds are also getting into their summer pattern which means the big trout will be harder to find now that the spawn is over. Plenty of smaller fish with a few keepers mixed in. Reds are in the shallow flats, if you want to catch them make sure you watch wind direction, tidal movement and always keep the sun to your back if possible. Reds can be really spooky this time of year. Plenty of keeper grouper in the bay now, we caught a couple on broke back rebel in three foot of water. Hearing good reports of pompano along the beach and flounder in the bay. Offshore, just like always some are catching grouper and snapper and some are not. One interesting thing that I have heard is there are a lot of blackfin tuna 20 miles out along with mahi mahi. Come by the store if your in town for the latest fishing info and fashions. JP