Fall is right around the corner - Pensacola, Perdido Key,
Capt. John Rivers
September 29, 2011
Pensacola - Saltwater Fishing Report
September is rolling to a close, and I have only had the chance to get out on the water a handful of times. With the busy summer season behind me, it was time to do a bit of maintenance on the boat. Upkeep is key to having your equipment in top-notch shape, plus I wanted to get all my ducks in a row before the fall redfish run which is getting closer.
So one week was trailer work, the other week was checking wires, pumps, and fuses. You never want to get out on the water and have a problem, so it's worth it to fix it before it breaks.
Of course, I did notch out some time to get out there and fish, so here is a report on those handful of day trips and even a few of those night trips for September. The last few weeks fishing the pass for reds and skipjacks was pretty productive, but the key was to get there when the tide was right.
For the redfish, I was using live finger mullet and pinfish and for the skipjacks, I'm slow trolling speck rigs and tossing out top-water plugs.
The night bite at a few of the bridges has been outstanding for white trout and redfish and even a shark or two. The trout are so plentiful; it is perfect for kids and family outings. Most of the fish are 1 –1.5 lbs, but they are starting to get a little bigger as fall approaches. We did manage to hook a few fish that were around 2.5 lbs, and those fatties made for a good fight on light tackle. White trout are pretty tasty, and the kids just love how easy it is to get one to bite that hook. I've had a few guests with kids that were so worn out from reeling, that they had to give their wrists a rest before continuing.
The reds have been caught both deep and around the lights on top. I like to pitch a Berkley Gulp 3" shrimp on a ¼ oz jig head for the reds, and also free line a live bait with no weight and just a circle hook set in the rod holder while we're jigging for trout and reds.
As you can see, fishing has been very good and should only get better as fall approaches and cooler temperatures arrive. Starting in about 4 weeks the annual fall redfish run will start and I can't wait. If you like the pull of a monster redfish over 25 lbs, give me a shout and we'll get you hooked up for sure.
Till next time, keep the rods bent and the drags screaming.
Tight Lines…
Capt. John
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