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Panhandle Fishing Report - Pensacola Bay & Choctawhatchee Bay
Capt. Eddie Woodall
March 20, 2006
Pensacola - Saltwater Fishing Report
Spring Fever = Good Fishing
Sheephead fishing has improved dramatically this week. All the fish I’ve been watching swim around the pilings and rock piles for the past few weeks are beginning to eat real good now. I caught over thirty today in just a couple of hours. There’s no problem finding them just look around Pensacola Pass then anchor up in the middle of all the rest of the boats, this is a lot of fun for the novice and experienced alike. Catching these inshore Snappers on a 10 pound spinning outfits are a blast. They will eat up some live shrimp, for four hour trips I will get at least 2 dozen shrimp per person. If you get in the right spot you will use them up in a hurry.
The Bull Red fishing has become a little tougher. There still have been a few schools scattered up and down the beach, last Wednesday I caught seven good ones, but they haven't been as easy to find as they were several weeks ago. I would expect to be able to find them along the beaches for at least another month.
Speckled trout fishing on the grass flats continues to be tough. You should be focusing your time around the mouths of the canals and bayous. Pinfish are starting to be able to be caught and Shrimp have been easy to come by, so add them to your arsenal in addition to some Berkley Gulp Shrimp or BIG top-water lures worked slowly to catch your Specks right now.
The Pensacola Bay Bridge rubble is an excellent place to fish right now. Every day is different, but some possible catches include Redfish, White Trout, and Speckled Trout, Black Snapper, small Grouper and Sheephead. Try using live shrimp fished on the bottom and up in the water column.
The anticipation of the first Cobia is over -- the first fish was caught on a boat last weekend. Depending on the weather conditions, the bite will improve during the next few weeks and peak sometime during the middle of April. The biggest mistake you can make if you're going Cobia fishing is to go without live eels. They can be purchased at your local tackle stores. The eels should be rigged with a 50-pound fluorocarbon leader, a swivel and a 5/0 to 7/0 hook. Several styles of hook will work, including trebles and J hooks, but I prefer a good circle hook.
The Bottom fishing Captains have remained steady with similar results this week as we've seen from the past few. If you're fishing around the Edge, you should be able to find some grouper and Mingo snapper, while heading farther offshore to fish rocks and ledges will improve your chances of finding the larger Grouper. You will need to be close to 300 foot to get this done. The near-shore wrecks will start producing a good mixed bag of fish soon. It’s also is time to start looking for small amberjack on some of these spots.
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.
Tight Lines and Screaming Drags, Till Next Time! God Bless.
Professional Fishing Guide
Capt. Eddie Woodall
Full Net Fishing Charters
www.fullnetcharters.com
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