PANACEA, Fla. – As the final chills of winter depart from the Big Bend, anglers are dusting off their fishing rods, preparing for a new season.
That is, if they haven’t already been out on the water taking advantage of some of the more summer-like days we’ve had recently.
If fishing tackle is still in cold storage now, chances are it won’t be by this weekend, as the fifth annual Rock the Dock Fishing Tournament in Panacea gets underway Saturday morning.
“We'll give out over $70,000 in cash and prizes,” says tournament chairman Mark Mitchell. “We’ll be giving away [a 2013 Skeeter Sx20] Sunday afternoon after the final weigh in.”
“The fish are starving, they've had a long winter without much to eat, and they're ready to bite. We should have a good year.”
Conditions Monday in Panacea were a little choppy as you could see a few whitecaps out on the bay. This weekend, you can expect to see plenty more whitewater as hundreds of boats will be leaving the docks.
“There'll be thousands of people coming down here,” says Mitchell. “Boats going out, bringing in big fish, what we want to do is bring people to Panacea to see what a lovely place and a great place to come and visit and fish. When we have this weekend, it's fabulous.
The tournament features eight fish categories in Recreational, Kayak, Youth, and Lady Angler Divisions. For information on how to sign up, go to www.panacearockthedock.com.
