I spoke with Victor at Gulf Breeze Bait & Tackle near Pensicola this morning. He tells me that fishing is good in the western Florida Panhandle with trout, reds, and flounder keeping rods bent inshore and dolphin, billfish, mackerel, tarpon,and wahoo keeping anglers busy in the Gulf.
INSHORE - The summer heat and thunder storms are here, so fishing early morning and late afternoon is best. Look for redfish around creeks, docks, and oyster bars. Live shrimp, gold spoons, and the 3" Gulp Shrimp in New Penny or Root Beer are the best baits. Speckled trout are on grass flats in the day and lit docks at night. Live shrimp, jerk baits, and the 4" Gulp Shrimp work well for bait. The Top Dog Jr, and 19MR MirrOminnow work great at night and early morning. Flounder have moved into the bay and can be found on sand and mud bottoms with good tidal flow. Bull minnows and Gulp Curly Tail Minnows on a lite jig head are the best baits.
BEACHES - Spanish mackerel can be caught from the Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier on small silver spoons and Got-Cha Plugs. King mackerel can be caught from the pier on frisky live bait fish, or you can catch them by trolling live bait or large spoons near the beach and at the edge. Tarpon can be caught from the pier on crabs or fresh dead sardines fished on the bottom or from a boat just off of the beach.
OFFSHORE - The larger gamefish can all be caught 35 miles offshore and farther. Look for blue marlin and white marlin, dolphin, and wahoo on the 131, the nipple, the elbow, the spur, and offshore oil rigs. Trolling I Land Lures and ballyhoo will produce plenty of action. For more information contact;
Gulf Breeze Bait & Tackle
850-932-6789
825 Gulf Breeze Pkwy
Gulf Breeze, FL 32561
www.gbtackle.com/
