St Joe Bay, Mexico Beach report and question

Hi guys. After years of jonesing for a bigger boat than my old aluminum bay prowler, I finally got a decent little 19' that I felt comfortable taking my wife and two boys (8 and 12) out in the Gulf on nice days.

So finally we got a couple of chances to go to Mexico Beach both Labor Day weekend, and then for a week on the boys' break 9/17-23.

We were able to find fish around the shark hole area in 6-10 feet of water by popping gulp shrimp and the occasional live bait I found. Nice Spanish, blues, a passing trout or black sea bass, and a shark or two. Evening bite was consistently better than morning.

Nearshore, we tooled around the buoy line, bell shoal, and car bodies, but only found a few runts and sharks. Just bottom fished, but I heard that area is good for king trolling, which I have never done.

After trying a few places between Panama City and the big bend for fishing and boating over the years, we really like this area the best. It seems to have it all, and nice folks to boot.

For those of you that have fished between PSJ and MB a good bit, would love to hear some general tips or favorite times of year for a fair weather guy with a regular boat. My wife and kids are happy just getting the occasional tug and putting a few in the cooler for dinner. If they're happy, ol Capt Dad is happy too. Even on a 1-2 day, we would never venture beyond the car bodies, and my boat drafts deep enough I wouldn't go too far in the southern shallows of the bay.

I also wouldn't mind finding a good local to hire when I don't feel like pulling the boat down six hours on a short trip if y'all have any recommendations.

Thanks in advance, Brad.

Check out crooked island. Get your pass from Tyndale Air Force your wife and kids will love it.

Crooked Island = shallow run from launch to open water...

Give the John Thomson reef a try during cooler water temps , he was a friend and there 30 reef structures there and there will be lots of sheepshead and black bass on it , I have a place at MB and keep a off shore boat at port st joe , my wife favorite spot is the spotted bottom off eagle harbor , you won't get stuck in there and there good grass even on low tide in 5-6 feet water ,to get the kingfish I don't troll I drift across the channel of the bouy line with a cigar minnow leader wire with two hook in the bait ,they will slam them lots of fun fighting them , going to do just that this afternoon

bds1078 said:

Hi guys. After years of jonesing for a bigger boat than my old aluminum bay prowler, I finally got a decent little 19' that I felt comfortable taking my wife and two boys (8 and 12) out in the Gulf on nice days.

Click to expand...

I did the SAME thing......upgraded my 15 foot aluminum for a 19' Carolina Skiff. Night and day difference on Lake Lanier, so i'm sure it will be fine in the gulf with decent days.

and my son is 7.

I posted a similar thread about suggestions.........

1eyefishing said:

Crooked Island = shallow run from launch to open water...

Click to expand...

Isn't there some type of pass you need to apply for now?
I seem to recall this from my last year research..

Yes. From Tyndall AFB.
I'd Google around to find the right phone number...