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Panhandle Fishing Report - Pensacola Bay & Choctawhatchee Bay
Capt. Eddie Woodall
January 26, 2005
Pensacola - Saltwater Fishing Report
The Bull Red’s are still here and we have been having a blast catching them. On just about any given day for the last two weeks (weather permitting) we have done well catching this awesome, fighting Bronze Beauty. On a four hour trip I’m averaging around 15 fish. For all practical reasoning these fish should stay here through February and into March. The average fish is about 25 pounds and 40 inches long, I have not caught the 50 pound fish YET this season. Last year it was mid February when the biggest fish were caught, so I’m looking forward to landing the BIG ONE soon.
Most all the Speckled Trout and Slot size Reds are in the rivers now They are being caught by drifting or slow trolling lead head jigs with a 5 or 6 inch curly tail grub with some chartreuse color in it, or working the 52m mirror lure SLOW close to the bottom. Once you catch a fish, mark your spot with a buoy or a land mark then go back up current and anchor, then fish out the hole that you just found the fish in. Usually if the fish you catch is a keeper they will all be keepers. If it was a short then most of the time they will all be shorts.
I have spotted a few schools of slot sized Red’s on some of the grass flats -- it has been fairly warm since the first of the year, so there are some fish still cruising the shallows.
The Sheepheads are starting their annual migration to Pensacola Pass. All the structure that has some deeper water on it will hold the fish. Bridge pylons, rock piles, deep water docks, the Jetties and even the drop offs or ledges in the pass will hold fish. I have a hard time catching these fish on any thing but live bait; Fiddler Crabs are the number one choice, although they are somewhat hard to come by. Shrimp on the other hand are plentiful and do just as good catching Sheepies as do the fiddlers. This fish isn’t wearing stripes and we don’t call them thieves for nothing - be patient and use Power Pro - it really helps detect the light tap, tap of the bait stealer cleaning your hook of his meal. There is a chance for you to land a trophy Sheephead this time of the year -- last February I caught several eight and nine pound fish. Man do those things pull hard!
The offshore Grouper bite has been good. Lots of reports of limits are being caught on the 75 foot deep reefs. These are the reefs that are within 10 miles of Pensacola Pass.
Now to the business end of my report; it’s less than 50 days till the day that the first COBIA was caught last year. All us small boat Captains are hoping for a little better weather this year than last year! I only had 8 days that I fished during the heart of the spring run due to high seas, which caused low visibility. If Mother Nature cooperates I’m looking forward to a banner Cobia season.
It’s not too soon to start thinking about booking a charter for the upcoming season. The spring Cobia run should get started around the 10th of March and really gets fired up by mid April. Then from there it all gets good!
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 Charters
www.fullnetcharters.com
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