The Pensacola fishing the past few days has been awesome! With light winds out of the northeast for most of last week, I was able to get out and enjoy the spring weather at last! And what better way to enjoy a clear April day than on the water with an empty icebox? Filling it up! Spanish Mackerel have moved into the upper bay and pass, and I am finding that spoons and gotcha plugs are attracting some good fish. We are also catching some good-sized Spanish off the beaches, and have spotted some large schools of Jacks cruising up and down the beach. I spotted a large school working its way to the boat, so I tied on a top-water mirror lure, and just a couple of jigs across the school was all it took! Twenty minutes later, Justin was holding up his biggest fish ever!
The trout bite has been hit and miss in the mornings. You have to catch the tide just right, and when you do, be ready! I've been catching some big trout the past few days in shallow water on Berkley Gulps under a popping cork. The redfish bite on the docks has also been very good up in Santa Rosa Sound, although you won't find them on every dock. If you look hard enough you will find a dock that is covered up with a few good fish. The last dock we caught some Reds on had close to twelve fish on it.
Red Snapper season has opened up in state and federal waters, but the seas have made it tough to get out and go fishing. The next five days, they are calling for seas in the 3 – 5 ft range. Hopefully, for the last week of April, it will start to calm down a bit and I can get out and bow up on a few big Snappers. That is, if I'm not too busy enjoying the tremendous inshore fishing. It will be a tough choice, but either way, I'll be happy!
When the offshore seas are too rough for a relaxing day on the water, don't forget about inshore fishing. April and May are great months for hooking up whatever type of fish you prefer to take home with you, so grab your favorite rod and reel, and remember to take a kid fishing. If you can't find a kid, then take me!
See ya on the water.
Capt. John
