I spoke with Jerry at Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier near Pensicola this afternoon. He was telling me that kingfish are providing most of the action from the pier right now. Cigar minnows and hardtails are the bait of choice for the king mackerel. There are also plenty of spanish mackerel around, but they are off and on and are finicky when they are biting. A #0 or #00 Clark Spoon, or a Got-Cha Plug tied to 30lb fluorocarbon should produce spanish mackerel when they are biting. Just remember to re-tie your lure after each strike. This will prevent you from loosing your lure due to frayed line. A few pompano are being taken from the pier. They are biting best early in the day on sand flees, live shrimp, and pompano jigs. A school of tarpon rolled past the pier earlier today but were scared off by an over zealous angler who drooped an egg sinker in the middle of the school. Remember that bait fish, and pieces of led, do not jump into the path of hungry predators. If you see a school of tarpon or any other predatory fish and you can not put your bait well in front of them, wait until they pass and then put your bait in the area they were swimming. They will probably loop back around and when they do, you will be ready. For more information contact;
Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier
850-934-7200
41 Fort Pickens Rd
Gulf Breeze, FL 32561
www.fishpensicolabeachpier.com/
I also spoke with Okaloosa Island Pier on Fort Walton Beach this afternoon. They were telling me that anglers are catching bluefish, whiting, ladyfish, hardtails, and flounder. Silver spoons and Got-Cha Plugs will catch the bluefish and live shrimp will catch every thing else. For more information contact;
Okaloosa Island Pier
850-244-1023
1030 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
www.okaloosaislandpier.com/
