Florida Panhandle Report 6/15-6/22

I was able to get down to the panhandle earlier in the month for the week. The trip was mainly a family one, however I found time at night to get some sharking done. Shortly after we arrived I discovered that I had forgotten a crucial piece of my sharking gear…a tape measure. The second night of the trip I hooked into a small blacktip on a bait dropped 100-150 yards. About halfway in there is some violent splashing. When I got the shark the rest of the way in I discovered that something much larger had found and made a meal of my catch.

The next day I was able to make some quick work of some large rays that were cursing just along the beaches. One of them was fairly large and a few very large baits.

The next couple of nights proved to be very frustrating. I would get nice runs and often hookup only to have either miss the shark or have the hook pull within moments of the fight beginning. My luck turned around the second to last night of the trip and I hooked up with an estimated 7-8 foot nurse. Not exactly an ideal catch but at least I was putting some sharks on the beach.

I still had my ray and plenty of light to run out my bait again so I thought why not. Within 20 minutes of my bait being back in the water I get a nice run that results in a solid hookup. A 20 minute fight would result in an estimated 7-8 foot lemon shark.

The last night of my trip I ran out a whole 15lb ray on the 14/0. After about 30 minutes the reel starts a slow roll. I let the fish eat awhile and tighten down the drag which results in a very strong run. I was thinking tiger until after 30 minutes I see a large goliath rolling in the surf. I sprang into action getting a quick pic of the fish and getting it back on its way quickly as possible. The fish swam off strong.

All in all it was a great trip filled with fishing and family.