Pensacola Trip Bull Redfish

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DHaun

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Joined
Dec 15, 2004
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Chattanooga/Florida
Saturday we left dock at 0830 hours in search of an INSHORE SLAM from Big Lagoon State Park
Our first stop was in a small bayou and we quickly boated two specks in two casts. We used a 1/4 oz pink softbody jig moved slowly along the bottom. First leg of the SLAM in the fish bag!

Our second stop was a dock that usually holds a few flounder. After several casts we finnally hook into a nice flounder only to loose at the boat.

Our next stop is Pensacola Bay and out go the Stretch 25s. A couple of passes and we have a line screamer on a Tsunami soft trolling lure. We fight the fish to the boat only to see a bonito.

We go back to trolling a gold/black S25 and fine a nice 20lb redfish.

OK second leg complete.

We headed back to the dock knowing we were going to be short on the INSHORE SLAM. Then I remembered a bayou that may have a flounder.

Right off the bat we boat a couple of nice specks. We boated about a dozen.

We get the INSHORE SLAM! OK the flounder is small but still a flounder.

Our final stringer looked as followed:

4 specks (all nice)
1 bull redfish
1 flounder
12 puppy reds
1 bonito

All fish returned safely to the water.
 

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Hey going to Destin,FL in about 3 weeks, any good places to fish from the beach areas or piers close by? Thanks
 
Destin is nice! I know more about Pensacola though... I need to get down that way again myself in the next few months. Destin is suppossed to have a beautiful pass to the gulf to fish in if you can get out there in a boat... You might want to take that Ranger/Honda and troll a stretch25 (a big redfin 100 ft behind the boat) around the pass on a big spinning reel if the weather is calm. I know of a guy that takes a 15 ft jon boat into pensacola pass on calm days so it should be possible. You could easily get into ladyfish, reds, jacks, or bonito (use a leader). This is a great time of year and I bet there are fish all over that pass right now. I have a spinning reel just for that kind of fishing you can borrow if you want - just shoot me an email.

I have never fished Destin, but there are some great places to fish all over the panhandle and the same methods can be used. Some techiques I have found productive are: Find some shallow grass flats 3-6 ft deep in the bay with visible round sandy holes (ambush points) . There should be numerous access areas near state parks and boat ramps - just find their locations on the internet. Throw a live shrimp or red and white grub, or D.O.A. plastic shrimp 2-1/2-3 feet tied under under a "cajun thunder" popping cork for reds and trout with a 10lb spinning rig - wade or kayak on out, but shuffle your feet to spook the sting rays if wading. A popping cork attracts the fish when you pop it every 5-10 seconds - they see the bait and nail it...

I also go to the pier and throw a "gotcha" plug for spanish or king mackerel (reel fast and twitch often) - you need at least a 30lb flourocarbon leader 2-3 ft tied to a black (not gold) barrel swivel or they will cut your line with their teeth. Be prepared to replace your lures and leader often b/c they destroy a leader quick. Steel leaders last longer but get fewer bites than flouro. -Or- you can always just bottom fish with live or dead shrimp for whatever...you might get lucky and catch a flounder.

If I am in the bay in a boat, I fish a creek mouth with a live shrimp or grub on a jighead on a falling tide - fish feed at the mouths of small creeks in the marsh. On a rising tide, fish any oyster beds (shallow humps) and cuts around them you can find. They will be visible or very shallow at low tide. If I am on the beach I throw a red tipped silver spoon (30 lb flouro leader) to schooling fish wading with a baitcaster or just fish a live shrimp. Pompano can be caught using sand fleas dug out of the sand...

If you can catch a pinfish (like a bream - they are everywhere) on a small hook w/shrimp hook him in the mouth thru the nose and fish on bottom with a big spinning or baitcaster rig (bay or pier). Big reds, bluefish, shark, and trout love em. Cut menhaden and mullet can also be used on bottom. The pier may also hold some cobia - although I am not sure if it is the end of their spring run or not...These fish need a larger rod and a cobia jig. If you are pier or bridge fishing take or rent a bridge basket to land any big fish.

Have a great trip and good luck! Oh yeah - please take some pics for the forum and let us know how it goes!!!
 
Dang! I'm definately gonna have to print this off. Thanks for the info. Sounds like your on your game. I think I failed to metion it is the wife's and mine vacation so it will look more like the pier thing but I definately will snap some shots. Thanks again.
 

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