Best Saltwater Fishing Day so far

I didn't think I would be fishing from this pier in Panama City Beach but, after my visit yesterday and seeing the guy (John) pull in that 68 pound Cobia and others catching the Spanish Mackerels, I couldn't resist.  After talking to some of the "locals" and getting their input, I felt encouraged to give it a try with what I had gleaned from folks and watching what was going on.

Another Windy Day

As mentioned in my post yesterday, I did purchase a new rod and reel to replace the enclosed reels that have been sidelined due to the saltwater effect on them -- the cost was $31 and the lures were another $15 and the cost to fish for the day was $6 so, that's cheaper than a half day of paying for a charter or party boat.  The water looks so beautiful from this pier too -- if only the wind wasn't so wicked and hard.  It still didn't effect the overall feeling of a great day of fishing (catching this time).

Largest over 20 inches (5th from right)

I caught more than the limit of 15 Spanish Mackerel but, only kept 13 and I released some while I just enjoyed the fun of catching some nice fish.  While I had my first or second fish on I also saw another Cobia just out in front of me and it made a U-turn toward me and then went deep -- had my other pole rigged but, couldn't bring myself to drop the one I had on though I yelled to others of its presence.  No one got the hit this time.

One of the King Mackerels caught.

I think I arrived around 11:00 a.m. and thought to stay a few hours but, it was too hard to turn and go (except for bathroom stops).  The action was intense for the first few hours and over a dozen King Mackerel were also brought in by anglers out on the end of the pier -- I took a spot on the west side, just short of the wider end section.  The King Mackerel were up to 28 pounds and some of them yielded inch and a half thick fillets -- others were cut into steaks but, most people were catching something (mostly Spanish Mackerel).  They are really pretty fish with brownish spots, ringed in yellow on a dark blue band along the top and silver to white bellies -- lots of teeth in those jaws too.

During the early "catching", I also managed to catch my thumb with the treble hook of the lure after getting one of the Spanish Mackerel onto the pier -- he jumped around when I didn't expect it and I ended up with the lure in my right thumb and still in his mouth.  After I managed to get the fish off, I spent quite a few minutes figuring how to get the barbed hook out of my thumb -- as it bled pretty profusily.  Asked a guy to my left if he could give me a hand but, he didn't seem to know how he might help (other than giving me a small rag to stop and mop up the bleeding).  I almost took a knee as I put pliers on the hook and pulled it hard to get it out.  Luckily I had a first-aid kit in my tackle box with a large band aid and some antiseptic wipes.

Other than that, it was a great day and I kept fishing until I lost my last of the three lures I had purchased -- big fish hit but, bit off the lures cleanly.  After that, the band aid came off too so, I headed for a fish cleaning station to gut the fish and head back to the RV.  When I arrived back here, Tiger didn't know what to think of all the fish in the cooler -- I cut off the heads and tails and cut the biggest fish into steaks (some marinating now for cooking on the grille tomorrow night).  Tonight, it will be one of those leftover steaks and a salad now that we have plenty of fish for many nights to come.