Light Tackle Sportfishing Charters
Panama City, Florida

Fishing the Panama City Area
Fish Species

Mahi-Mahi

Mahi in our area are a summertime treat, they usually show up here in June and are around until the water cools in the fall. As weed lines form over the summer, the chances of adding one to the box also goes up, we keep a pitch pole ready at all times because you just never know when one will swim up to the boat.

Black Grouper

The Black Grouper is one of our main target species. Found locally on our many artificial reefs and hard bottom areas, they provide not only a good fight, but better yet, a great meal. As table fare, the Black Grouper is second too none. Our 10 hour trips are best to target these fish, as the water warms to summer temperatures the distance we run offshore increases, normally we will run 25 - 40 miles offshore on these trips in the warmer months.

For those that enjoy a cold windy day in the late fall and winter, we can target these fish on our 6 hour trip. These winter trips can be fun with non stop action, but be prepared, it's cold out there and is not recommended for those that are prone to sea sickness.

The 2008 season closure was February 15th – March 15th. We'll update 2009 season closure dates when they are made available.

Red Grouper

The Red Grouper is another of the grouper family that we will target on our bottom fishing trips.

Found mostly on hard bottom areas their tendency to take natural dead baits sometimes makes them an easier target than the black grouper. At this time, the limit is one per person per day.

King Mackerel

Either caught by trolling or drifting live baits, these fish are really fun to catch.

Known for their drag screaming runs they have become a popular target throughout the Gulf of Mexico. Our run of Kings show in late spring / early summer and are around until the water cools. We also catch kings while flat lining baits on our bottom fishing trips.

Scamp

We mostly catch scamp while fishing for Snapper and Grouper, the Scamp is one of the smaller Groupers we catch. What they lack in size they make up for it with the way they taste on the plate.

Red Snapper

The Red Snapper is by far one of the most popular fish in the Gulf's panhandle region. State and Federal seasons are now in place and limit the open season for Red Snapper. The State season (out to 9 nm) is open from April 15th - October 31st with a limit of two fish, per day, per person. Federal waters (beyond 9 nm) are open from June 1st - August 5th with also a bag limit of two per person. These fish can be caught on both the 6 and 10 hour trips. Once the federal waters close, we will downsize the tackle and fish the artificial reefs and hard bottom areas in state waters only on both the 6 and 10 hour trips.

Even though we'll only be allowed to fish out to 9 nm, we will use the additional time on the 10 hour trip to fish multiple areas. Once the Federal waters open, with most clients, we run out early to deeper water to target our Grouper and other species then return to State waters to try to fill our Snapper bag limit. We'll be happy to customize your trip to fit whatever type of fishing you would like to do.

Wahoo

Wahoo in our area are another summertime treat Not a fish that we normally target, it is possible to target these with good success when conditions are right.

This 72 pounder was caught by Nick Sherry and Stephen Parris on a personal trip with friends in June while bottom fishing 20 miles out.

Vermilion Snapper

Known locally as "Beeliner" or "Mingo" these small Snapper are abundant on our reefs and wrecks. Though not one of panhandles "glamour" species they are easy to catch and a lot of fun on light tackle. Prepared "Caribbean" style when fresh they also make a nice meal.

Amberjack

Caught on wrecks and reefs all along the Gulf coast they have a well deserved reputation for being one of the toughest fish in these waters. Nicknamed "reef donkeys," they inhabit our coastal waters from inshore out to 300 feet and sometimes deeper. It usually takes only one big one for most to say "that's enough for me".

Flounder

We also offer night time flounder gigging trips(May-October). These trips are arranged by the tides,depending on the day you'd like to go we'll use the tide tables to decide the best time. These trips normally run 9pm-2am or if the tides run later we'll start at midnight and flounder till daylight. We also have a great winter time flounder fishery offshore during the cold months, these fish can be targeted with great success in winter by fishing the near shore wrecks and artificial reefs.

Other reef species we catch; Mangrove Snapper locally known as Black Snapper, Grey Triggerfish and Lane Snapper.

Jabo
Offshore Charters
Panama City, FL
Main: 850-747-0523
Cell: 561-310-6732
Email: info@FishJabo.com

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