Redfish & Trout along the Panhandle
Capt. John Rivers
December 9, 2008
Pensacola - Saltwater Fishing Report
Will this wind ever go away? It has been really blowing out the past couple weeks here in the panhandle. With it whipping 20+ knots, it's hard to find a place to fish where you don't get beat up, but luckily I have been able to get out and catch a few fish in-between these fronts.
My last outing we managed to boat 12 reds and a few black snapper on an outgoing tide. Most of the reds were just above the slot, but we did manage to put two in the ice chest for dinner.
The black snapper were fun to catch as well; these pesky bait stealers were gobbling up live shrimp on a #2 Gamakatsu circle hook.
I was fishing one of my black snapper holes, and they were thick. I may have to get out there again to catch some Christmas dinner for the family.
I also went up to the north end of the county and fished Blackwater this weekend and the bite was a little slow. I waited till the mid morning as it was an outgoing tide, and I wanted an incoming tide to fish my spots. Most of the reds were in the lower end slot, but I did get one 26-1/2 inch fish, but let him go to grow up and bend my rod another day. The big thing up in the north end of the bay is the trout bite; it's on fire right now, and they were hitting a small mirror lure suspending twitch bait in the mullet pattern. They couldn't get enough of this lure. Cast after cast, it was fish on, and the fish were very healthy, with most in the 15 – 18" range.
With winter upon us, the water keeps cooling, so remember to slow down your presentation and bring hot chocolate with you in the morning on your fishing adventures. Get out and fish in the New Year!
Here's wishing you tight lines this holiday season.
Capt. John
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