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You definitely need a license to fish saltwater. IF you are fishing from a pier you should not need a license. IF the water is calm, I recommend fishing the darker water near beach (deeper is darker) with a 1/4 oz redhead and a chartreuse 3-4" tail tipped with a small piece of peeled shrimp-early or late is best on incoming tide. I only use bass gear when doing this and catch trout, flounder, redfish, and ladyfish regulary with some suprise fish thrown in from time to time. Good luck
You might have a problem with this idea because I just got back from Panama City and the pier wasn't completed yet. It looked very close though, but they were still in construction phases.
Skeeter, when you going. I will be there last week of July. Going to do the same thing. Got some old spinning reels that I don't mind if I get salt in them. I have been there many times, I like to fish off the pier in St. Andrews park.
Does anybody know how the redfishing is this time of yr. I have been trying to find a guide. Have only had one respond to email and he said he doesn't redfish that time of yr. I was really wanting to do this. Thanks, Tim
[QUOTE=ukbass;374039]Skeeter, when you going. I will be there last week of July. Going to do the same thing. Got some old spinning reels that I don't mind if I get salt in them. I have been there many times, I like to fish off the pier in St. Andrews park.
Does anybody know how the redfishing is this time of yr. I have been trying to find a guide. Have only had one respond to email and he said he doesn't redfish that time of yr. I was really wanting to do this. Thanks, Tim[/QUOTE]
If you are willing to drive about 45 minutes east, head to Port St. Joe on 98, and fish the bay there. There are guides that go out of Presnells (850) 229-2710 that can put you on redfish anytime or you can rent a boat. It can be tough to rent a boat this time of year though because it is scallop season. That bay is crystal clear and has loads of trout and redfish and this time of year you can also get into some serious mackerel, pompano and tarpon in the deeper areas. It is possible to wade plenty of the bay as well.
Give Presnell's a call, they are great, honest people who will put you on the right road. Good luck
redearhoosier....my buddy got back sun n said the pier was finished for the fireworks sat ..... i duno thats what he said .....ukbass ... ill b there the first week of aug ... havent been since highschool dont remember much of that trip :) i would love to go for some redfish it looks like alot of fun with topwater let me know how it turns out ......chasmo ... thanks for the tip on the redfish location also .....
Was down there last December..did not do any fishing so can't help you there...but...I can definitely recommend the cold draft beer and raw oysters at Dirty D-I-C-K's.
[QUOTE=chasmo;374115]If you are willing to drive about 45 minutes east, head to Port St. Joe on 98, and fish the bay there. There are guides that go out of Presnells (850) 229-2710 that can put you on redfish anytime or you can rent a boat. It can be tough to rent a boat this time of year though because it is scallop season. That bay is crystal clear and has loads of trout and redfish and this time of year you can also get into some serious mackerel, pompano and tarpon in the deeper areas. It is possible to wade plenty of the bay as well.
Give Presnell's a call, they are great, honest people who will put you on the right road. Good luck[/QUOTE]
I can second this as Ive been to the area (stayed at Cape San Blas) and Pt. St Joe is AWESOME!!
I know of a little pier there that Ive caught some nice fish from, including my biggest, a 7.5ft nurse shark on 15lb tackle!!!
Got back Sunday afternoon from PCB. I recommend not going during the week of the fourth ever again, that place was packed. We went out on a party boat Tuesday and brought back 38 pounds of various snappers, red, white, beeliners, and one lane snapper.
I tried to fish in the bays for flounder, trout and redfish but never got the first bite. I fished a piece of gulp shrimp on a jig head and fished a mirrodine twitch bait and got zero bites. Fished at the State Park at the east end of the beach all around the docks and well down the shore fishing the grass beds and open pockets. Also fished in a different spot near the old Panama City or St. Andrews.
June Grass was bad out in the surf after tuesday. I tried surf fishing but the grass just wads up on your line and makes fishing impossible.
Good luck when you go.
[QUOTE=DaveStewart;374129]Was down there last December..did not do any fishing so can't help you there...but...I can definitely recommend the cold draft beer and raw oysters at Dirty D-I-C-K's.[/QUOTE]
raw oysters an icy cold beer is alot like pb&j .... is just goes perfect with eachother lol
I've been down there a few times. Surf fishing is about impossible right now because of the june grass. All the good stuff (pompino) are gone anyway.
The pier is open now. Google emerald coast fishing and find the forum for reports on what's going on on the pier. If you want to fish for kings take a 8-9 foot rod and reel holding 20 lb line and get some king leaders. Get some frozen cigar minnows or catch ly's or cigs on a sabiki rig and free line them out. If you want to learn how go out on the end of the pier, stay out of the way and offer the locals a beer, you'll get all the lesson you need. When kings are running it's about the most fun you can have with your clothes on. If you want to go all out you can get a decent king rod at Half Hitch for about 120 bucks. If you need a reel I've got a Mitchell 402 that I'd sell that's lined with 20 lb. Ande.
UKBASS--for reds go out to St Andrews and fish the jettys. Get some live pinfish or live shrimp and fish them on carolina rigs. You can catch pinfish just like you catch bluegills or buy them at Half Hitch. Fish a moving tide and you should do good. There are alot of bull reds there along with mangroves and grouper. Take plenty of gear though because you'll lose it. I had the best luck by wading out in the kiddy pool and then getting up on the jettys there. Also try the deep water point, I can't remember exactly how to get there but if you ask around you can find it. It's a walk but the water goes from 5 to 50 feet in about 20 feet, reds, grouper and shark are in there. If you really want to have fun go to the boat ramp and freeline shrimp around the docks and cleaning station on floro line. There are a bunch of big mangroves that hang around there and you should be able to sight fish for them. Also try kastmasters and gotchas off the jetties for blues and spanish.
I don't know of any bay areas to fish down there but if you are going to the Destin/Ft Walton area I can turn you onto an awesome flounder/red spot. Good luck and let us know how you do. Ted