Capt. John
Active member
- Joined
- Mar 15, 2008
- Messages
- 33
Capt. John, Pensacola, Navarre, Perdido Key Inshore Report, Trout, Redfish, Black Drum & Sheepshead,
Pensacola, Florida.
I’ve been fishing both the backcountry and in the bay this past week, and the fishing has been hit and miss. In the bay I’ve been targeting white trout, redfish, and a few flounder. The trout bite has been pretty good using Berkley’s Gulp Alive curly tail white grubs on a ¼ jig head. The same lure has helped put a few flounder in the box as well. As for the redfish, they are hitting Berkley’s Gulp Alive 3 – 4 “ New Penny Shrimp on a ¼ oz - ½ oz jig head. Slow bouncing it off the bottom has proven to produce the best strikes. Fishing back up in Blackwater Bay and Escambia Bay has been productive when the tide is right. The Speckled Trout bite has been pretty good with catches in the double digits. Remember that during the month of February, Speckled Trout season is closed so we have to put them back.
Most of the trout have been around 16 – 18” with even a few over 20”, and these are a blast to catch on light tackle. Red fishing in this area has also been pretty good depending on the tide. Fishing up in the backcountry is all about tides; if you don’t have the right tides you aren’t going to catch fish, and that’s just the way it is. So make sure you check the tides before you decide to go off for a day of fishing. I like to fish the incoming tide so I have some water moving and some water to work with. I also recommend a few things if you’re going to fish these shallow water areas. Make sure you have a boat that has a shallow draft and some type of sight casting platform or poling platform to help you spot these fish. Most of these fish are in 10– 24” of water and spook very easily, so stealth is a must when fishing the shallows. Secondly, I recommend a Powerpole on the boat. This relatively new gadget has revolutionized inshore fishing for me and many other shallow water anglers. Getting back to the redfish, I’ve been catching most of my fish by sight fishing from the tower and using Berkley’s 5” Jerk Shad in either Chartreuse or Camo; these two colors rigged on an 1/8– 1/4 oz keel worm hook has proven to be the ticket.
As you can see, we’re still catching fish here in the NW Panhandle during the winter months. You just have to pick your days for the right weather and tides.
Coming up in a few weeks is Spring Break, and this means warmer temperatures and great fishing. Starting around March 5th, the Sheepshead bite will be off the hook and will last for around 5 – 6 weeks. During this time last year, we were hooking up quality reds and black drum like it was nobody’s business. So, if you’re looking for some great inshore action during March or April, give me a shout and I’ll put you on some great fishing.
Tight Lines.
Capt. John
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, SPRO Fishing Tackle
Gamakatsu Hooks, Fenwick Rods, Pure Fishing - Berkley,Stren,Quantum
Pensacola, Florida.
I’ve been fishing both the backcountry and in the bay this past week, and the fishing has been hit and miss. In the bay I’ve been targeting white trout, redfish, and a few flounder. The trout bite has been pretty good using Berkley’s Gulp Alive curly tail white grubs on a ¼ jig head. The same lure has helped put a few flounder in the box as well. As for the redfish, they are hitting Berkley’s Gulp Alive 3 – 4 “ New Penny Shrimp on a ¼ oz - ½ oz jig head. Slow bouncing it off the bottom has proven to produce the best strikes. Fishing back up in Blackwater Bay and Escambia Bay has been productive when the tide is right. The Speckled Trout bite has been pretty good with catches in the double digits. Remember that during the month of February, Speckled Trout season is closed so we have to put them back.
Most of the trout have been around 16 – 18” with even a few over 20”, and these are a blast to catch on light tackle. Red fishing in this area has also been pretty good depending on the tide. Fishing up in the backcountry is all about tides; if you don’t have the right tides you aren’t going to catch fish, and that’s just the way it is. So make sure you check the tides before you decide to go off for a day of fishing. I like to fish the incoming tide so I have some water moving and some water to work with. I also recommend a few things if you’re going to fish these shallow water areas. Make sure you have a boat that has a shallow draft and some type of sight casting platform or poling platform to help you spot these fish. Most of these fish are in 10– 24” of water and spook very easily, so stealth is a must when fishing the shallows. Secondly, I recommend a Powerpole on the boat. This relatively new gadget has revolutionized inshore fishing for me and many other shallow water anglers. Getting back to the redfish, I’ve been catching most of my fish by sight fishing from the tower and using Berkley’s 5” Jerk Shad in either Chartreuse or Camo; these two colors rigged on an 1/8– 1/4 oz keel worm hook has proven to be the ticket.
As you can see, we’re still catching fish here in the NW Panhandle during the winter months. You just have to pick your days for the right weather and tides.
Coming up in a few weeks is Spring Break, and this means warmer temperatures and great fishing. Starting around March 5th, the Sheepshead bite will be off the hook and will last for around 5 – 6 weeks. During this time last year, we were hooking up quality reds and black drum like it was nobody’s business. So, if you’re looking for some great inshore action during March or April, give me a shout and I’ll put you on some great fishing.
Tight Lines.
Capt. John
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, SPRO Fishing Tackle
Gamakatsu Hooks, Fenwick Rods, Pure Fishing - Berkley,Stren,Quantum
