Panama City has its offshore fleet at maximum readiness for the June 1 red snapper opener. Inshore the trout and redfish bite is steady, Spanish mackerel are working the beaches, and the nearshore kingfish action has been reliable. Light winds dominated the week.
Offshore — Red Snapper Opening, Mahi Building
The red snapper opener in federal Gulf waters June 1 (verify NOAA dates) is the headline event of the week. The Panama City offshore fleet has been actively scouting productive numbers all month. The Stage I and Stage II artificial reefs, the natural bottom from Pensacola East through PCB in 80-160 feet, and the Steel Tower wrecks are the standard productive zones.
Standard snapper setup: heavy bottom rod, 6500-class conventional reel, 80 lb braid mainline, 80-100 lb fluoro leader, 9/0 circle hook, 12-16 oz sinker. Bait — cut squid, cigar minnow chunks, live pinfish or pilchards — fished hard on the bottom. The bite is typically immediate at productive numbers; if you’re not getting bit within 5 minutes, move.
Limits are 2 per angler currently (verify NOAA at trip time) with the season often running short due to harvest quotas. Daily limits will be reached early at productive boats.
Gag and red grouper also open June 1. Combination trips will be the norm through the summer.
Mahi-mahi continue to be caught on the 100-fathom curve and on the Spur. Trolled ballyhoo over weed lines is producing schoolies and the occasional gaffer.
Nearshore — Kingfish, Spanish Mackerel
Kingfish action has been strong on the artificial reefs in 50-80 feet of water and around the navigation buoys. Slow-trolled live menhaden and blue runners on stinger rigs are producing fish in the 20-40 lb class with a few smokers (50+) mixed in.
Spanish mackerel are working the bait schools along the beaches and around the St. Andrew Bay entrance. Trolled Clarkspoons on planers are the standard. Bluefish and ladyfish are mixed in for the surf variety.
Inshore — Trout, Reds, Flounder
St. Andrew Bay and East Bay are fishing well for the species mix. Seatrout on the deeper grass flats in 4-6 feet of water — live shrimp under a popping cork or DOA Cal paddle tails on 1/4 oz jigheads are producing. Redfish on the marsh edges and oyster bars — cut bait or live mullet on Carolina rigs.
Flounder are starting to push in for their summer pattern. Live shrimp or finger mullet on a 1/4 oz jighead worked along the bottom in the bay channels is producing fish in the 14-18 inch range. The St. Andrew Bay jetty area is reliable.
Sheepshead continue on the bridge pilings and jetty rocks. Live fiddler crabs on small hooks with light leader.
Surf and Pier
The St. Andrew Bay jetty and the Russell-Fields Pier are producing a mix — Spanish mackerel, bluefish, the occasional king, sheepshead, whiting, and the always-reliable ladyfish. Live shrimp and Got-Cha plugs are the standard.
Pompano numbers have tapered but a few continue to be caught in the surf on sand fleas and shrimp.
What’s Ahead
Red snapper, gag grouper, and red grouper all open June 1 in federal waters. The offshore fleet is gearing up. Water temperatures climbing into the mid-80s. Afternoon thunderstorms beginning to build.
For this weekend: pre-snapper offshore scouting, dawn trout on the bay grass, Spanish on the beach mid-morning.
Tight lines.