Here are a few pictures from my charter on Saturday the third. We had a great time with some nice sheepsheads and some bull reds. The reds were on fire for a while, we couldn’t get a bait past them to the sheepsheads! But that was a good problem to have. All fish caught on live shrimp.
Capt. Matt Mcleod
I had the pleasure of taking Denis, a return customer of mine, and some of his family and friends on a fishing trip yesterday. The weather was nice, still a little cold when the clouds were out, but getting better! The fish bit pretty well, it was hit and miss throughout the morning but in the early afternoon we got on them hot! Total for the day was 15 nice sheepsheads, 3 pompano, and 1 redfish.
Mitchell with a nice sheepshead
A group shot with a few of our fish
Dan caught this nice keeper gag grouper but the season is closed until next month so back he went.
Capt Matt Mcleod
850-418-5333
American Rodsmiths is a fishing rod manufacturer based out of Huston, Texas. The company has been around for a long time building fresh and salt water rods that have been very popular in many parts of the country including Texas and Louisiana. They have come out with a new innovative idea that has changed the way people look at rod grips. They have put Winn golf grips on two models of their rods.
We got to try these out on a trip to Louisiana to look for some redfish this winter and we were VERY impressed. The other characteristics of the rods are right on also. They have many combinations of weight, action, lengths, and tip taper so that you can find the rod that is just right for you. Find a local American Rodsmiths dealer to check them out. If you are in the Pensacola area come check them out at Hot Spots Bait and Tackle.
Capt. Matt Mcleod
www.hotspotstackle.com
www.hotspotscharters.com
850-418-5333
Inshore
If you looking for the bull redfish the place to be seems to be along the beach between Pensacola and Perdido Pass. Those fishing Pensacola Pass at night have also been catching their share of fish.
You can pretty much bet on being able to catch some white trout around the Pensacola Bay Bridge, but the consensus has been that many of them are small.
Sheepshead have been another pretty consistent find for inshore anglers lately. Look for them around structure with barnacles like bridge pilings, rock jetties, or deep docks and sea walls.
Offshore
If you can brave the weather there’s some good action to be had in the Gulf. It’s an excellent time for a rig trip in search of tuna. From the latest reports there are quite a few yellowfins along with plenty of blackfins around the floating rigs.
Finding a good box of bottom feeders shouldn’t be too tough of a task either. Amberjack should be a very easy find on the larger wrecks and the triggerfish, vermilion snapper, and grouper reports have been pretty good as well.
Piers & Beaches
The reports have been different each day, but the cold weather will definitely keep the bonita feeding around the Pensacola Beach Gulf Fishing Pier.
Those fishing on Bob Sikes Bridge still are finding a fair amount of sheepshead along with some redfish, black drum, ground mullet, and white trout.
Surf fishing reports have been few and far between, but this is ordinarily a good time to fish for whiting and there’s always a good chance you hook into a bull red.
Captain Chris Phillips
Inshore
The muddy water has put a damper on the inshore fishing over the past week or so. Bull reds still are being caught, but you will likely have to fish for them with bait or troll diving plugs.
Anglers have been doing very well with the sheepshead fishing around structure like bridge pilings or rocks.
Even the white trout bite around the Pensacola Bay Bridge has been much slower than normal with the dirty water, but you can still catch enough for dinner.
Offshore
A number of anglers have done very well with the flounder on the offshore wrecks lately. This is the time of year when they congregate in the gulf to spawn.
The tuna reports from the floating rigs have varied from one boat to the next. There have been plenty of blackfins along with an occasional yellowfin.
Those who have ventured out bottom fishing recently have come home with some great stories. If you have some deepwater spots that usually hold grouper now’s the time to head out and give them a try.
Piers & Beaches
As long as the weather stays cold and the wind blows out of the north the bonita action will stay red hot on the Pensacola Beach Gulf Fishing Pier.
There are very few surf anglers hitting the beach, but those who are have been doing very well. There’s a surprising amount of pompano being caught considering how late it is in the year in addition to whiting and redfish.
Sheepshead have been the best thing going for everyone fishing on Bob Sikes Bridge. There’s always a good chance you hook into a big redfish as well.
Captain Chris Phillips
