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Panhandle Fishing Report - Pensacola Bay & Choctawhatchee Bay
Capt. Eddie Woodall
February 11, 2008
Pensacola - Saltwater Fishing Report
Fishing in February is limited to being at Mother Nature's discretion. If she gives you half a chance to go you had better take advantage of the opportunity. It's been my best winter ever for catching Flounder, for the last six weeks the bite has been off the charts, on every trip I have limited out and I've caught some real good ones too. If you're in the mind to catch a few flat fish you had better try and get it done over the next week or so because they are just about finished spawning and have already started moving off the structure that they have been holding on.
The next big push of fish are the thieves, you know the fish in the striped suit, the bait stealer himself Mr. Sheephead. February is the month that these fish start ganging up around almost any structure that has barnacles growing on it; Jetties, rock piles, pier and bridge pilings are all good places to start looking for them. The limits on the fish are very generous, you can keep fifteen per person and the size limits are twelve inches total length. The Sheephead are on the move and being caught around the Bob Sikes Bridge and 3-mile Bridge rubble. Capt. Pat Dineen from Ft Walton Beach reported the Sheephead bite on the Destin Bridge has been good for the last couple of weeks. The best baits are Shrimp and Fiddler Crabs. They should both be plentiful at the local tackle shops. Carolina rig them on a 15 pound test spinning outfit with the appropriate weight to keep the current from blowing it away with a #2 Gamakatsu Octopus Circle Hook with 12 inches of 20 pound test Yo-Zuri Pink Fluorocarbon line and you’re Sheephead fishing.
The 3-mile bridge has still been producing some nice White Trout along with a slot Red Fish now and again. On the days that you can’t get around the bay just launch the boat over at the 17th avenue boat ramp and it’s only about a half-mile ride till you’re in the hot zone. These fish will hit just about anything dead or alive. Lots of fishermen will use a lead head jig and grub to catch a few fish then start cutting strips off of one and fish it on the bottom for the Red Fish.
Spring break is only about six weeks away and I’m booking up fast if you're interested in booking a trip or just looking for some fishing advice give me a call.
Prepare your tackle. When you hook a big fish, it’s impossible to retie a knot or change a leader!
I know one thing for sure - You ain’t going to catch’em sittin’ on the couch!!
So get out there, and take a kid fishing, God Bless.
Professional Fishing Guide
Capt. Eddie Woodall
Full Net Fishing Charters
www.fullnetcharters.com
A special thanks to my sponsors:
Blazer Bay Boats, Yamaha Outboards, SPRO Fishing Tackle, Gamakatsu Hooks, Big Bite Baits, Inc.
Pure Fishing - Berkley Gulp & ABU Garcia, Shakespeare Fishing - All-Star Rods & Penn Reels.
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