Gettin' Hooked

Everyone who has been procrastinating about going off-shore fishing because Red Snapper season was not open, now is your chance. Red Snapper season opened June 1 and, boy, are they biting like wildfire! Nearly every public wreck, the 29 edge, and many of the private holes are loaded.

We fished every day in June onboard the Entertainer and made several trips on the Big Zulu as well. The size of the Snappers this year has been incredible compared to years past. The Red Snappers that have been hitting docks at the Pensacola Beach Marina have averaged 4 to 6 pounds, with many in the 8- to 12-pound range and occasionally some in the 15- to 20-pound class.

The live bait such as Blue Runners, Threadfin Herring, Cigar Minnows and Menhaden are plentiful in and around the Pensacola Pass. Live bait is a must when fishing for the larger ones, and they surely pay off for the Sal Snappers. Most all these baits can easily be caught using sabiki rigs or slow-trolling small spoons and jigs close to shore in and around the Pass.

The blue-water fishing has not been that great unless you are prepared and carry enough fuel to travel 150 miles offshore. The blue water is somewhere on the same latitude as Tampa. There have been reports of a small pocket of water in and around the Spur that has been producing some Wahoo and Dolphin,

The inshore fishing has been very good, but you need to be there early in the morning or late in the evenings. This temperature of mid to high 90s and above really makes the inshore fishing tough during mid-day. The Flounder are biting great on live bull minnows in the Pass and around the jetties. The Spanish Mackerel and Lady Fish have been plentiful in the early mornings and late evenings on the out-going tide.

In the Pass and around the larger public wrecks, the King Mackerel have been on fire in the early morning hours. They love live cigar minnows and hard tails. They also love dead cigar minnows slowtrolled around 6 to 7 knots and silver spoons as well.

Fishing here in the Florida Panhandle doesn't get much better than it is right now. Almost anything you want to catch is biting - if you are there the right time of day.

For your next fishing adventure, give us a call and we will set you up on a trip aboard the Entertainer or the Big Zulu. We furnish everything except what you eat and drink, and will clean your catch at the end of the trip.

"May the good fishing be yours."