Offshore fishing has been great! Plenty of Vermillion snapper, triggerfish and a few scamp grouper. Red snapper season opens up May 22nd for the inshore/nearshore boats and June 1st for the Offshore boats
Offshore fishing has been great! Plenty of Vermillion snapper, triggerfish and a few scamp grouper. Red snapper season opens up May 22nd for the inshore/nearshore boats and June 1st for the Offshore boats
Inshore has been on fire with 4 inshore slams in the last 4 trips! Some stud flounder and bull reds mixed in as well. Dock lights have produced consistent trout after the sun sets
Inshore has been on fire with 4 inshore slams in the last 4 trips! Some stud flounder and bull reds mixed in as well. Dock lights have produced consistent trout after the sun sets
Pensacola — this week’s fishing report (early May)
Overview
- Strong, multi-area bite right now: surf, inshore/backwaters, nearshore reefs/wrecks and offshore all producing when conditions allow.
- Water temps are warming (upper 60s–low 70s reported), bait is moving in, and fish are active from the beach out to the wrecks and ledges.
- Wind and frontal passages will still create short weather windows — plan trips around calmer days.
What’s biting
- Surf / Beach: Pompano run in full swing (also whiting, some drum). Spanish mackerel are showing up along the beach; king mackerel will be more common as the...
Pensacola — this week’s fishing report (early May)
Overview
- Strong, multi-area bite right now: surf, inshore/backwaters, nearshore reefs/wrecks and offshore all producing when conditions allow.
- Water temps are warming (upper 60s–low 70s reported), bait is moving in, and fish are active from the beach out to the wrecks and ledges.
- Wind and frontal passages will still create short weather windows — plan trips around calmer days.
What’s biting
- Surf / Beach: Pompano run in full swing (also whiting, some drum). Spanish mackerel are showing up along the beach; king mackerel will be more common as the month progresses.
- Pier: Spanish mackerel and early kings near mid-to-end of the pier; night fishing around lights can produce.
- Inshore / Bays / Flats: Big spotted trout and redfish are active on the flats and around grass edges; flounder and slot reds in some areas.
- Nearshore / Reefs & Wrecks: Vermilion (vermilion) snapper, amberjack, grouper and a steady reef/wreck bite. Mangrove snapper and scamp show on structure.
- Offshore / Deep-water: When weather permits, bottom fishing and deep drops are producing tilefish and solid bottom action. Trolling lanes are starting to produce kings in places.
Baits, tackle & techniques
- Surf: Bottom rigs with fresh shrimp or sand fleas for pompano/whiting; small jigs or gotcha plugs for Spanish.
- Pier: Cut bait for bottom species; live bait for kings and bigger pelagics.
- Inshore: Live shrimp, soft plastics, or topwater/traction plugs around bait pods and grass edges for trout and reds.
- Nearshore/Offshore: Sabiki rigs for tink
Spanish mackerel have been and still are the easy fun target. Trout and redfish are still getting better and better. Light tackle bottom fishing has produced nice catches of vermillion snapper along with some big red grouper and a variety of other keeper fish like lane snapper, scamp grouper, and trigger fish.
Cobia are finally worth taking a longer trip to go look for along the beaches in 20-40 feet of water. It only takes one 30-50 lb fish to make the trip a success!
Spanish mackerel have been and still are the easy fun target. Trout and redfish are still getting better and better. Light tackle bottom fishing has produced nice catches of vermillion snapper along with some big red grouper and a variety of other keeper fish like lane snapper, scamp grouper, and trigger fish.
Cobia are finally worth taking a longer trip to go look for along the beaches in 20-40 feet of water. It only takes one 30-50 lb fish to make the trip a success!
This is from a 6 hour the other day we caught a bunch of mahis, and then I will send a group of pics from today we had a mixed bag of snappers and catch and release amberjacks.
This is from a 6 hour the other day we caught a bunch of mahis, and then I will send a group of pics from today we had a mixed bag of snappers and catch and release amberjacks.
We had an amazing day fishing with Captain Darrell and his deck hand Jon. We caught a good amount of fish. We will definitely be coming back and going on another trip.
We had an amazing time fishing with Lance in Pensacola Bay. He put us on the exact fish we asked to pursue and couldn’t have had a better time. Highly recommend. 10 out of 10.
Captain Lance did a Great job n a less than perfect environment. Wind was up and we just missed our limit. Knowledge is everything and Captain Lance has it. My son and I will definitely be back soon. Thanks Captain Lance. Whit and Griff
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