Sunny Skys and Great Fishing in the Panhandle
Capt. John Rivers
April 16, 2009
Pensacola - Saltwater Fishing Report
Dust off your sunglasses and hook up the boat, because the wind has died down and the rain has finally let up. The next 7 days look to be great here on the panhandle. The water quality is still very murky, but that's ok; the redfish don't seem to care, as the bite has been on fire. I've been putting my new Quantum Boca reels to the test, and let me tell you, they are great reels. The drag system is top notch, and if any fish is going to test these reels, it's going to be a redfish. The bite in the pass has been very good for sheepshead and black drum, with most of the fish around 5lbs, but we've hooked a few this year in the 8lb range.
The redfish we've been hooking have been caught near the pass and on a few secret spots of mine. (Book a trip with me, and I'll show you)! I've been hooking them on 1/4oz -1/2oz jig heads with 4" Berkley Gulp Alive New Penny Shrimp.
Last week, while we were red fishing, a large school of jacks showed up and the bait pods were jumping out of the water trying to get away from these voracious feeders. We managed to hook up a few, and they are great fun on light tackle. When a school of jack starts feeding, nothing survives, and if you get a bait or lure anywhere close to them, it's fish on! Another fish that's making a good showing is the black snapper on the jetties. We have a few jetties in Pensacola and all of them are holding black snapper.
Even though these fish aren't the biggest fish around, they are certainly at the top of many anglers' dinner menus. Pompano are also starting to make a good showing, too, and as the water clears the bite will get much better, I've not been out too much cobia fishing, yet, but I'll be out a lot this week and next. Check back for a report.
Tight Lines.
Capt. John Rivers
Mega-Bite Inshore Charters
850-341-9816
Mega-Bite Inshore Charters
Thanks to my sponsors:
Mann's Lures, Power-Pole Pro Staff
SPRO Fishing Tackle / Gamakatsu Hooks
Pure Fishing Pro Staff/Berkley,Stren
Quantum Pro Staff
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