Panama City Beach Fishing

Complements of the Panama City News Herald

They’re everywhere.
Red snapper season in Florida waters in the Gulf of Mexico opened on Tuesday and there doesn’t seem to be a shortage. If anything, there's an overabundance. “They’re a nuisance,” said Capt. Eric Thrasher on the Daybreak. “There’s too many of them.” He explained while they were fishing in federal waters Thursday for grouper and other species, the snapper kept taking their bait. “We threw back about 30 or 40 snapper,” Thrasher said. “Snapper fishing is as good as I’ve seen in a long time,” he added. “They are there ... in every direction you want to go.” The Daybreak kept 16 red snapper. They also came in with grouper, black snapper and a couple of triggerfish.
Recent regulations have cut the bag limit on red snapper from four fish daily per person to two fish per person, and the captain and crew of the charters are not allowed to be counted in the bag limit. In addition, the recreational red snapper fishing season in Gulf federal waters has changed and will now open on June 1 and close on Aug. 5. Gulf federal waters extend well offshore beyond state waters, which only extend nine nautical miles from the shore.
Capt. Steve Hauesler on the First Light had no problems finding the red snapper. “There’s plenty of them out there,” Hauesler said. “And we caught all the law would allow.” His group of anglers from Louisiana limited out on red snapper. They also pulled in a grouper and a huge 10-pound triggerfish.
The group on the charter boat No Alibi didn’t have a problem catching red snapper either. “They’re everywhere,” said Capt. Chuck Turbanic of the No Alibi. “You can’t get away from them ... You can’t fish for other species because of the red snapper.” He said hungry dolphins were even stalking the boat and waiting for anglers to return the reds to the sea. His group, however, did catch their red snapper limit, a couple of grouper and a pair of cobia. Turbanic said they found a pair of cobia and caught one, then later saw a single and hooked it. Both cobia weighed about 40 pounds each.
Anglers on the Top Gun with Capt. Jeff Culbreth brought in a nice catch of red snapper, lane snapper and amberjack. Some of their snapper weighed in the 12- to 15-pound range. First mate Jay Singletary said they didn’t have any problem catching snapper. As a matter of fact, “we had a problem catching grouper because of all the snapper,” he said.
Captain Art Smith on the Nautica and his anglers from Ohio and Delaware filled the racks with red snapper and grouper. The Destin Princess with Capt. Judah Barbee at the helm came in with a big catch of red snapper, mingo, white snapper and triggerfish.
Capt. Bruce Marler on the Gulf Breeze had several baskets full of mingo, lane snapper, red grouper, amberine and amberjack.

Lets go fishing!!

Panama City Beach Condos for Rent

Panama City Beach - Pier Park

Now that Pier Park has been open for a few weeks have any of you been to the restaurants? I have received several comments on Margaretville (not too flattering I must say). What about the Back Porch or the new restaurant featuring German food and beer.

Lots of our condo guests ask for suggestions about where to eat in Panama City Beach. Help me give them some ideas about the best places to go in Pier Park as well as other places on The Beach.

Thanks Jerry
Panama City Beach Condos for Rent

Panama City Beach – Emerald Coast Triathlon

The April 19, 2008 event will feature a triathlon, duathlon and the Aqua Bike Series. Spinnaker Beach Club is the location of the race site swim area, transition area, finish line and the awards ceremony. Come to The Beach for a fun weekend. We should have great beach weather. For more information call 850-234-7892.

Good Luck
Panama City Beach Condos for Rent

Panama City Beach - US Air

US Airways begins service to Panama City Beach from Charlotte North Carolina on Sunday April 6, 2008 with three flights daily. The flights will leave PCB at 6:37 AM, 11:37 AM and 4:27AM. The flights will arrive from Charlotte at 10:47 AM, 3:40PM and 8:39 PM.

The current round trip pricing from Nashville reflects a $440 round trip price. Go to US Air’s web site and check out pricing from your city. I do not fly US Air much so I don’t know how often they have sales. Maybe having US Air and Delta both flying into PCB will put some more pressure on prices.

Have lots of frequent flier miles? A trip to Panama City Beach would be a great way to use a few of those miles.
See you at The Beach!

Panama City Beach Condos for Rent

Panama City Beach - Family Spring Break

Last month it was beer funnels, MTV and children. This month, it is playtime and mini-golf with the children. Family Spring Break 2008 is under way in Panama City Beach. On Thursday, young parents with toddlers roamed the area looking for shells, fighting the waves and trying to turn pasty pale into a tan.
While this week has been a little slower than the last four weeks with college kids, April and May are great times for families to get out for Spring Break.
Come to The Beach for your spring beach vacation and get some great deals!

Jerry
Panama City Beach Condos for Rent

Panama City Beach - Skim Boarding

OK skim boarders it’s your time at Panama City Beach! It’s time to put on your surf gear, wax your board and prepare for the most thrilling skim boarding competition of the year. The 10th Annual ZAP Pro Am Skim Jam is open to the public and will take place Friday, April 11 through Sunday, April 13 at the Edgewater Beach & Golf Resort in Panama City Beach, Florida. This nationally recognized sporting competition has truly made its name in the record books and features the best pro and amateur skim board talent in the world! The weekend begins with a chance to meet the pros of skim boarding on Friday, April 11 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, April 12 will consist of the Annual ZAP Pro Am Skim Jam Contest from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a pool deck party following the competition. Contest finals will take place Sunday, April 13 with the awards ceremony to follow.

Need a new board? The folks at Ron Jon Surf Shop in Pier Park will help.
Panama City Beach Condos for Rent

Panama City Beach - Beach Patrol

If you are visiting Panama City Beach you will most likely see the Beach Patrol several times throughout the day.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office Beach Patrol, along with Bay Medical Center’s Surf Rescue Team and officers from the Panama City Beach Police Department, are Bay County’s de facto lifeguards. None of the condos that line Front Beach Road and Thomas Drive provides lifeguard services. The beach service managers at the condos also keep an eye out for trouble.

The Beach Patrol monitors 13 miles of gulf and sand for trouble. They have several trucks, surfboards, fins and use of the department’s helicopter. They wear green shorts and polo shirts. Ask the patrol and they are likely to tell you that they have the best job in the world except on days when the seas are angry and someone is pulled too far from the shore by a riptide.
The Beach Patrol also uses a helicopter to watch the beach and the gulf. The pilot keeps the helicopter at about 10 stories high. Riptides can be spotted easily from the air. And by knowing where they are, deputies can keep swimmers away from the danger area.
If they spot a strong current, the Patrol will ask swimmers to move away. When the swimmers won’t go, deputies often ask them for contact information for their next of kin to let the swimmers know that there is real danger. One idea the Beach Patrol officers have suggested is for all the condos to have large signs on the beach side of their property identifying themselves. That way, when someone is in trouble, they would know instantly where they are on the beach.
In addition keep your dogs off of the beach or you will get to have a chat with the Beach Patrol.
Watch the warning flags for water conditions and be safe.

Jerry
Panama City Beach Condos for Rent