PC/PCB Fishing Report 6-20-25
Bay Fishing
The trout bite has been really good! There are more reports of bigger over slot fish as well. The redfish are still being caught, although some anglers are having issues finding them. If you are in that situation, consider looking for schools of mullet and other baitfish. Once you find those, try to catch some with a cast net or other methods. Get a reasonable sized baitfish and freeline it out around where you see bait activity. Make sure you are out on the water before the sunrise since high tide is in the early morning.
There are still over slot redfish around the bridges and in the pass. The mangroves are around structures near the pass like the jetty rocks, docks, and other structure. Small live bait for those is perfect. A shrimp if you are in a hurry, but a small white bait is definitely a favorite. Use light, small hooks and 20lb fluorocarbon. A mistake many make is to reel up at first bite. What generally is happening is the mangrove does not always have it all the way in their mouth. Let them swim just a bit for better hook ups. The time can vary so you might have to figure out the pattern on a few.
If you live on a canal or have access and would like to go for a ride, be ready for a black drum, aka big ugly, in the 30lb-50lb range. They are often seen cruising the canals looking for food. They will eat almost anything, but they are really excited when they find a blue crab. Folks that have that these big uglies coming through their canals report that the blue crab catches go way down in their traps. They can clean out an area before moving on to somewhere else.
*BRAND NEW* Ghost Shrimp FishBites
Get 'em while they're hot! We now have Ghost Shrimp FishBites to pair with your bait.
In May they handed out samples to try that were actually early batches. Reports were excellent. They tweaked and improved a few things and now you absolutely should be using some on your next fishing trip to the beach.
Surf Fishing
The surf fishing has been tough! Not because there are not any fish, but the dreadful June grass, algae. It can be a minor annoyance to an out right trip killer. It has been bad the last 1.5 to 2 weeks. It appears to have cleared in some areas a bit, but there is not a “forecast” for this stuff. Your best bet is to arrive and do a test cast. Send it out and wait a couple of minutes. Reel it in and see if your line is coated. If it is, try to move if you can a decent amount East or West.
If you absolutely have to fish, you can walk out on the 1st sand bar and fan cast a cup faced popper with 40lb mono as the leader. The Storm Chug Bug is perfect for this and has been used for this successfully so many times! You will catch mostly bluefish, ladyfish, and spanish mackerel. The water has been really warming up. It is at 86-87 degrees so early is best, with late afternoon being better as well.
If temperatures dip with a cooler current look for fishing to pick up as well. You can monitor the surf temps and winds by searching for “PCBF1” and see readings every 6 minutes as well as winds.
Fish-N-Mate Rake and Spike Carrier
This easy to attach accessory will make your next trip to the beach a whole lot easier! This Rake and Spike holder fits 4 Fish-N-Mate Sand Spikes and a Fish-N-Mate Sand Flea Rake.
Pier Fishing
This week the action has been out from the middle part of the pier to the very end. In close there has been June grass. There have been kings caught and a few tarpon around at times. Be aware that there have been sharks at times just waiting for you to hook up and get an easy meal from your line.
The mahi have been a welcomed party crasher showing up randomly. There are also some bonita and spanish mackerel. Early has been best due to the heat.
There was a sailfish caught for the 1st time this year! They generally will eat a live flatlined bait.
Bottom Fishing
The fishing is absolutely on fire! It took a bit of a lull on the full moon, but has since amped back up to absolutely great! Many people have reported catching limits of red snapper and vermillion snapper.
Mahi are showing up to boats fishing and weed lines. Some of them are decent for inshore mahi up to 10lbs. Be ready having some pitch baits. A 4000 sized spinning combo can generally handle them. Rigging them with a lightweight jig and 20 lb fluorocarbon. Add a soft plastic with a very active tail. Try different colors. If you want to hammer them, have some chum minced up and pitch in a handful at a time. If they won’t bite, pull in all the rods and keep up the chumming. They will turn on and then they will eat cut anything on a hook. The chum keeps their attention as well.
There have also been reports of wahoo within 30 miles. They have been reported to be hitting vermillion and other fish being reeled up or reeled in on a flatline.
Reamaining Red Snapper Days:
June 1–30
July 1-31
September 1-14, 19-21, 26-28
October 3-5, 10-12, 17-19, 24-26, 31
Novemeber 1-2, 7-9, 11, 14-16, 21-23, 27-30
December 5-7, 12-14, 19-21, 25-28
Nearshore Trolling
Right now the primary fish is king mackerel. There are some showing up early outside the pass and off of the sandbars around the bait schools. Others through the day will generally be down at least 20 feet or so. Downriggers, planers, and diving plugs are the best way to get to these fish. Be prepared for a decent mahi up to 10lbs or so to jump in on the action.
Offshore
There are reports of a good tuna bite, some wahoo, and some really nice mahi. The next 2 weeks will have us seeing a lot of reports and fish since we have 2 huge tournaments. This week out of The village of Baytowne Wharf. Next week, we have the Bay Point Billfish Open right here in Panama City Beach.
