PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. –When your gut tells you to do something different than what’s in front of you, do you listen? Capt. Justin Leake and Meredith McCord listen and find unexpected success in Best Go with Plan B, this week’s all-new episode of “Chasin’ The Sun.” The award-winning fishing and coastal lifestyle television series produced by Visit Panama City Beach will air on Saturday, February 4, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern and Pacific / 7:30 a.m. Central on Discovery Channel and 10:00 a.m. Eastern / 9:00 a.m. Central on Waypoint TV.
It’s too rough in the Gulf of Mexico to sight fish for tarpon, so Justin and Meredith make a beeline for the Hathaway Bridge, which connects the cities of Panama City and Panama City Beach. The bridge crosses over St. Andrew Bay – part of the Intracoastal Waterway – and provides a natural “pinch point” for bait fish as tidal flows move water about. It’s no wonder the big bulls consider bridge spans to be excellent hunting grounds.
“Most people don’t realize there’s a giant population of bull redfish living under the bridge,” says Justin. “It’s one of the most reliable fisheries we have.”
While Justin uses a big topwater plug to mimic the blue crabs that redfish are targeting, Meredith opts for her trusty fly rod and a foam crab. When the captain gets all the action, Meredith decides it’s time to make an adjustment. “If everyone around you is getting bite after bite and you’re not, check your bait,” says Meredith.
After the pair fishes an offshore reef, they bring home a cooler of mangrove snapper for a “hook and cook” experience at a local restaurant. Later in the episode, discover some of the winter and spring events that give visitors another reason to make Panama City Beach their year-round vacation spot.
Produced in partnership with Pinfish Media, new episodes of “Chasin’ The Sun” will air Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. Eastern/Pacific and 7:30 a.m. Central on Discovery Channel through March 2023 and on Saturdays at 10:00 a.m. Eastern/9:00 a.m. Central on Waypoint TV through December 2023. Season eight sponsors are Dulce Vida Tequila, Florida Watersports, Grundéns, Holiday Inn Resort, Humminbird, Minn Kota, Pirates Cove Marina and Smith Optics.
Previous episodes of the show are available for online viewing at www.ChasinTheSunTV.com and on more than 50 of the leading on-demand and streaming services. For more information on “Chasin’ The Sun,” visit the website or stay connected via Facebook (@ChasinTheSunFishingShow), Instagram (@ChasinTheSunTV) and YouTube. Follow Capt. Justin Leake and Meredith McCord via Facebook (@justinleakePCB and @MeredithMcCordFishing) and Instagram (@captjustinleake and @MeredithMcCord).
About Panama City Beach
Panama City Beach is situated on 27 miles of sugar-white sand beaches bordering clear, emerald-green waters where the Gulf of Mexico and St. Andrew Bay converge. With 320 days of sunshine annually and attractions such as St. Andrews State Park and Pier Park, the region has long been favored by travelers seeking an affordable beach vacation with year-round offerings for families, couples, groups and adventure-seekers. These include championship golf courses, spas, sporting events, award-winning dining and diverse recreational activities. In addition, Panama City Beach’s Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport offers non-stop flights on Delta Airlines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines. For more information, call 850-233-5070 or visit the official website of the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau at http://www.visitpanamacitybeach.com. Live HD video of the world-famous beach is now available at http://www.visitpanamacitybeach.com/webcam/. Stay connected with Panama City Beach on Twitter (@Visit_PCB), Instagram (@Visit_PCB) and Facebook (@Visit_PCB).
