Need help in Panama City

[leeuga11]

I have always chartered offshore trips and of course done fine. Live In GA (go dawgs) and have finally got to the point where I am leaving fish and ski boats alone and bought a 22' trophy CC. Went to PC where at least I somewhat know where to go and fished for 2 days and caught 1 spanish mackeral and 2 catfish. Pretty ironic that some GA guys caught frickin catfish in the ocean. WE WANT DOLPHIN. Please tell me what I need to do. I have downriggers and all the right epuipment, someone please help me put the right configuration together to get some these pretty fish. Got pulled over by the DNR and they thought is was very funny when we told them what we caught. Don't want that to happen again, any suggestions?

 

[southtexas]

Re: Need help in Panama City

There's too much to answer in your question. Do research on what species you want to target, how far off are they typically found (water temp, structure, etc), what do they eat. Go to mom and pop tackle shops and talk to the owners/customers; learn from them.

Make sure your boat is in EXCELLENT condition before heading offshore--every time. Find a friend or friend of a friend who knows what they're doing and start taking him/her out with you. Or, better yet, charter a boat and ask every question to the captain, follow the mate around the deck and watch his every move. I'd been on tons of chartered trips but never really bothered to pay attention to what was going on around me, except to find the cooler. Now that I have my own boat, anytime I'm on a charter, I spend the day watching and learning.

 

[leeuga11]

Re: Need help in Panama City

Thanks, I have also been on many charters and haven't paid a bit of attention at what they were doing. guess i need to break down and go on a charter again and watch. i know my boat isn't big enough with a single engine also to go to the bluewater but I heard the dolphin were biting very well 3 miles out in may, maybe i'll be successful next year - or this fall and winter, don't plan on stopping.

 

[triumphrick]

Re: Need help in Panama City

Practice. practice, practice! Tried but true advice.
Are you sure the mahi's are running this time of year? All that rigging sounds like you are targeting pelagics species and they may not be that active right now. Up till the ARS ban on the 15th of Sept., that was a popular fish to target. With this weather, mostly bottom fishing, but if you are catching cats, you are in too close.
You will get more comfortable going out the more you use your rig.
I am all about paying for a trip to get an angle on what the pro's do.
Good luck, and keep us posted!

 

[lyle]

Re: Need help in Panama City

Lee...come by and talk to us here.... http://www.fishingmgc.net/ ... pretty broad subject....and this is a great place to start..see you there by the way...I'm a Georgia guy too...just south of Atlanta (but I fish Alabama and Mississippi )....the first thing you are going to need to know is where to fish