Episode Ten

With a new boat rigged, ready and raring to go, Capt. Justin Leake and Capt. Ed Zyak head for deep water and a fall fishing adventure in the Gulf of Mexico. This is their first offshore trip on board Justin’s new Dorado 25 and a chance to see how she performs.

It’s early fall and Mother Nature weighs in with cool temperatures and a stiff north wind, but that doesn’t bother these guys. “I appreciate the ability to fish in all weather conditions,” says Capt. Zyak. “If it’s bad offshore, we can fish inshore…the variety is what keeps me excited and passionate about fishing in Panama City Beach.”

Leake and Zyak navigate to a spot about 10 miles offshore where a line of natural limestone bottom is covered in corals, providing the perfect structure for snapper, grouper and other denizens of the deep. Setting the hook begins an epic battle to wrestle the fish off the reef and get it to the boat before dolphins and sharks steal an easy meal.

Later, we visit the Panama City Beach Conservation Park, a natural paradise covering nearly 3,000 acres and featuring more than 20 miles of hiking and biking trails.