Drstin, Navarre, Pensacola Inshore fishing report
Capt. Eddie Woodall
August 18, 2010
Pensacola - Saltwater Fishing Report
Most of the Oil has been dispersed or recovered and NOAA fisheries have opened up most of the Gulf of Mexico for fishing. BP is still present, mostly for wildlife care and observation. The fish are healthy and hungry. I want my life back, so - let's go FISHING!
Ok guys and gals, I know most of you are getting ready for hunting season that's just around the corner, but for those of you that need that last saltwater junkie fix, the fall migration of big Spanish is in full swing and close behind are the Smoker King Mackerel. The Spanish are thick up in the bays, on the beaches and around the passes. These fish are easy to catch on artificial lures. I like small half ounce gold and silver casting spoons, you can cast these things a country mile on light spinning outfits, this comes in handy with boat shy fish - plus you can cover more ground. Spanish make good table fare and are plentiful; it's a good time to stock up on some freezer fish for the winter time fish fry. Just watch for the birds working bait balls and this will get you close to the fish. If getting your shoulders a good working out is needed, then we'll head out to one of the near shore reefs with some good lively bait and see what you can do with the Amberjacks. We won't catch and monsters in close but the ten to twenty pound fish are plentiful and real workouts when caught on the lighter tackle. Keep in mind there's talk about opening up a fall Red Snapper season due to the small number of fish that have been caught so far this year. This could be very exciting for us since we haven't had a fall season for a couple of years now. NOAA fisheries and the FWC will be meeting September 1-3rd in Pensacola and September 13-17th in Charleston South Carolina to discuss the terms; I sure hope they let us fish!
You're also going to find big schools of Lady Fish on the beach and around the passes. For you fly fishermen and light tackle fanatics, these guys are a blast and they're big this time of the year. With all this activity on the beach we'll find the smaller size sharks like the black tips and small bull sharks around. You can handle these fish on light tackle and you can also catch them on artificial lures. I'll use big top water chugger type baits, this is good for practicing your sight fishing skills too. Just cruise the beaches till you find the big schools of Lady Fish it won't be long before the sharks show up. If you can't get the shark to hit the plugs, pitch him big live bait or a chunk of fresh cut Lady Fish and hold on!!
For the inshore stuff, the Speckled Trout bite is still a little slow in September, I'll try a few spots early before the sun gets up on every outing to see if and when the big Specks are getting more active. We will catch Red Fish in the normal spots, around the deep docks, bridges and structure around the bays. It won't be long before the inshore fishing gets cranked up for the fall -so get ready.
This time of the year is when big schools of Bull Reds start showing up on a regular basic. These fish are headed in for their annual fall spawn. From now all the way into the spring I'll be real busy keeping up with these pulling machines. I'll find fish out on the beaches in the passes and up in the bays. The best part is when you find them you catch them! A twenty five pound Bull Red Fish won't pass up an easy meal.
The fall fishing here is just too good to try and tell you about in writing. It's something you have to experience firsthand. I've fished all around the peninsula of Florida and I know for a fact there is no better place to catch the oversized Bull Reds than right here!!
The music of angling is more compelling to me than anything contrived in the greatest symphony hall!
I know one thing for sure - You ain't going to catch'em sittin' on the couch!!
So get out there, take a kid fishing and have a Blessed Day!
Professional Fishing Guide
Capt. Eddie Woodall
Full Net Fishing Charters L.L.C.
850-936-8203
www.fullnetcharters.com
A special thanks to my sponsors:
Blazer Bay Boats, Yamaha Outboards, SPRO Fishing Tackle, Gamakatsu Hooks, Big Bite Baits Inc. Lee Fisher Bait Buster Cast Nets, Pure Fishing Select Anglers Program, Berkley Gulp, ABU Garcia, All-Star Rods, Penn Reels and Stren
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