Panhandle - Panama City, West Bay & Port St. Joe

Panama City Cold Front Redfish and Trout Well it's been a little while since my last report. Unfortunately I have been real busy.... sometimes too busy to fish. Not to worry Capt. Todd and myself have had some chances to get out there and run some trips. The weather has been up in down the last couple of weeks. We have had heavy rain with waterspouts and more recently we have had some high winds and cool weather. Well you will be glad to know the weather has not set the inshore & flats fishing off too much. A couple weeks ago I had the chance to run a trip with Travis a gentleman from Kentucky. He had originally booked a trip with Capt. Todd the day before but they got rained out so I ended up getting the trip the next day. I showed up at the ramp in the morning and of course it was raining. I was all ready to call the trip but Travis jumped out of his car and walked over and said he was ready to go. Well I figured if he was willing to get a little wet I was willing to take him fishing. To make a long story short it rained pretty hard off and on but the topwater bite was on and we ended up landing some really nice redfish and trout. Of course during the trip my cell phone died and we pulled up further in the bay to avoid the heavier rains, which pushed the trip a little longer than usual. My wife tried calling several times to tell me that there were water spouts in the area and when she couldn't get a hold of me .....well the calls started going out to our friends at the Navy base. Luckily I called her from the corner store as soon as we got off the water and avoided an all out search and rescue. Capt. Todd and I have both ran several trips over the last couple weeks that have produced some nice redfish and several 20 to 22 inch trout. The pattern has not changed very much from my last report. They redfish and trout are still on the flats. The reds are grouped up a bit more and the trout are starting to get closer and closer to the creeks and deeper holes that they will move into during cooler weather. The cooler weather has made for some really clear water and the sight fishing for reds and trout has been really good, however the clearer water also means the fish are a bit more spooky than usual so I have changed up to a smaller topwaer plug with a quieter sound chamber. I have also switched up to a 4 inch gulp shrimp (new penny) rigged weightless on a #4 hook. I have found that the quit presentation has consistently produced more bites. Again stealth is the key. If you can drift with the wind and avoid using your trolling motor you will have a better chance. Right now the shoreline up to and around redfish point has been on fire. It usually only takes a 200 to 300 yard drift to catch a couple nice fish. In North bay the flats around the entrance to north shore and all along the other side close to the power lines have been producing. Remember the north winds are blowing pretty good now and the tides are a bit lower than normal. Be sure you cut the engine well before you chew up the sea grass close to the shore. As always good luck on the water. Capt. Rob Womble & Capt. Todd Jones.