Panama City Beach

[huntingteacher]

Guide recommendation - Osprey Charters, Capt Greg. Been out with him several times. 2nd choice, and cheaper, rent a boat for 275 or less, troll for Spanish around the jetties and the pass. We caught 26 in 4 hours trolling silver spoons. Half Hitch Tackle posts weekly fishing reports. I took my kayak down, caught a nice red fish in the bay. That is really fun way to fish there. Do it every year.

[sweetwater]

Guide recommendation - Osprey Charters, Capt Greg. Been out with him several times. 2nd choice, and cheaper, rent a boat for 275 or less, troll for Spanish around the jetties and the pass. We caught 26 in 4 hours trolling silver spoons. Half Hitch Tackle posts weekly fishing reports. I took my kayak down, caught a nice red fish in the bay. That is really fun way to fish there. Do it every year.

I go to the Half Hitch Tackle in Destin and PCB all the time. Both locations are great shops with friendly and helpful employees.

[JUSTINHALL]

Gobypuck,
I will be down in Destin for a week and a half in mid June. If you are down there in that time I can take you out. I do go out though and fish for red snapper and grouper not in shore. We go 14-16 miles out and fish in 75-90' of water. I have Gloomis rods so its not like using a broom handle but they are heavier rods than you are used to and I promise you it is one heck of a fight. They will wear you out and maybe make you holler for momma but I can promise you it is a lot of fun. It is action packed not send it to the bottom and wait 20 minutes, you send it down fill the weight thump and hold on and start cranking. If you are in the right spot they grab it as fast as you can get it to the bottom.

[Duayne]

Not sure if you want to leave Panama City, but a short drive east and you could hook up with a quality guide from Robinson Brothers. I've used a few. David Heinke and Chris Robinson are both awesome. Tommy Robinson is the best flats guide, probably in all of FL but he's almost impossible to get. His brother isn't far behind him. Dave Heinke also works for the FL wildlife biology department and he's an unbelievably cool guy to talk to.

I would rather fish Apalachicola bay than anywhere in the world.

http://flaredfish.com/

[GobyPuck]

Gobypuck,
I will be down in Destin for a week and a half in mid June. If you are down there in that time I can take you out. I do go out though and fish for red snapper and grouper not in shore. We go 14-16 miles out and fish in 75-90' of water. I have Gloomis rods so its not like using a broom handle but they are heavier rods than you are used to and I promise you it is one heck of a fight. They will wear you out and maybe make you holler for momma but I can promise you it is a lot of fun. It is action packed not send it to the bottom and wait 20 minutes, you send it down fill the weight thump and hold on and start cranking. If you are in the right spot they grab it as fast as you can get it to the bottom.

JUSTINHALL, That really sounds good but I am going to be there the last week of May or I would without a doubt love to go out with you and catch fish like that!
I think I have misinterpreted the bottom fishing because the only charter I have ever been on is the large boat with about 100 people on board were the poles are stiff and as soon as you start catching fish they ring the bell to move.
Let me ask, do most of the small charters use lighter tackle like you are talking about and stay on the fish?
Again thank you very much for the invite, that sounds like a great fishing trip!!!

[sweetwater]

JUSTINHALL, That really sounds good but I am going to be there the last week of May or I would without a doubt love to go out with you and catch fish like that!
I think I have misinterpreted the bottom fishing because the only charter I have ever been on is the large boat with about 100 people on board were the poles are stiff and as soon as you start catching fish they ring the bell to move.
Let me ask, do most of the small charters use lighter tackle like you are talking about and stay on the fish?
Again thank you very much for the invite, that sounds like a great fishing trip!!!

You were on a party boat using boat tackle? No wonder you had a bad taste in your mouth about bottom fishing. They are tourist boats, not fishing boats. Everything JUSTINHALL said is spot on. Right down to the thump and reel or your rocked and the sore arms.

[Duayne]

Ugg.. Party boats... Private off shore charters are the only way to go. Much more expensive but worth it. You will still be using similar tackle as the party boat when bottom fishing but hopefully much better quality. There are some Captains that can set you up on lighter tackle fishing but if they butter their bread on the bottom, it's going to be with a broom stick first.

There is a guy that posts on here that does Kayak charters from that area, if I am not mistaken. You might want to search the posts for him.

[riverrat12]

Ugg.. Party boats... Private off shore charters are the only way to go. Much more expensive but worth it. You will still be using similar tackle as the party boat when bottom fishing but hopefully much better quality. There are some Captains that can set you up on lighter tackle fishing but if they butter their bread on the bottom, it's going to be with a broom stick first.

There is a guy that posts on here that does Kayak charters from that area, if I am not mistaken. You might want to search the posts for him.

That would be Jason. JD7.62

[GobyPuck]

Ugg.. Party boats... Private off shore charters are the only way to go. Much more expensive but worth it. You will still be using similar tackle as the party boat when bottom fishing but hopefully much better quality. There are some Captains that can set you up on lighter tackle fishing but if they butter their bread on the bottom, it's going to be with a broom stick first.

There is a guy that posts on here that does Kayak charters from that area, if I am not mistaken. You might want to search the posts for him.

I'm not interested in a Kayak trip just a fun fishing trip for the sport not the meat. I don't want to catch a Tarpon, that's a little too sporty, just want to take my kids (young adults) out and have some fun catching fish it doesn't matter if it weighs 5 pounds or 50 pounds as long as you have to fight it to the boat.

[Duayne]

This guy takes you fishing in kayaks. It isn't just a kayak trip.