Although we are enjoying warmer than usual weather, windy conditions have plagued the panhandle for the past few weeks. However, when anglers have been lucky enough to get out, I can happily say that the fishing has been worth the wait.
The speckled trout bite has been "speck-tacular" up in the middle of Escambia Bay. Most of the fish have been caught on either a suspending mirror lure in the chartreuse or silver colors, or by slow-working a 5" Berkley jerkbait in either the mullet pattern or electric chicken.
Up in the backcountry areas, the redfish bite has been hit and miss. Most of the fish we're catching are small, but from time to time we find a nice keeper if we weed out the little ones. The reds are mostly being caught on the flats in 2ft or water or less on an outgoing tide or incoming tide. The best bite is 2 hours before the tide comes in or out. To entice these fish, my lure of choice is the 5" mullet color - silver / white Berkley jerk shad on an 1/8 oz jig head.
Moving out into the bay, the grouper bite has been pretty good along Ft. Pickens and in the pass on some of the deeper ledges. Slow trolling a stretch 25 – 30 has succeeded in putting some fish on ice. The black snapper bite is still going strong in the pass on the rock jetties. Live shrimp on a Carolina rig with a #2 kale hook will put some tasty filets on the dinner menu. Up in Santa Rosa Sound the trout bite has slowed considerably, but if you're fishing this area for trout this time of year try working the deeper holes around the bridges and drop-offs from 6 – 12 ft of water or deeper. Along these areas, you might get lucky and hook up on a keeper redfish. Speaking of redfish, the reds are still around in Big Lagoon on the flats, and most are in the keeper range. If you want to catch these guys, you need to be in stealth mode, for sure. These fish are skittish, but by working a Berkley gulp 3" New Penny Shrimp slowly on a 1/8 – ¼ oz jig head, you'll snag a few.
The big reds are not as thick as they were in November, but some decent sized schools are still around. Most of the bigger reds are being caught at night at Bob Sights Bridge and near the 3- Mile Bridge. Offering up live white trout or jigging a 3 – 4" Berkley Shrimp near the bottom has proven to be the ticket when going after these fun-fighting reds.
I have received reports of a lot of grouper being caught from 6 – 30 miles offshore. I have also heard a report a few days back about a crew that went deep dropping and wore out the snowy grouper. Triggerfish and Vermillion snapper are also being caught in close around 7 – 12 miles out.
As the winter months keep most people indoors in most places, here in the panhandle, conditions are almost perfect for a fun day of fishing. Do yourself a favor this New Year, and make fishing your New Year's resolution.
Here's wishing everyone a safe and Happy New Year.
Capt. John
