I could hardly believe the weather forecast for the second week of November when they were giving Hurricane and tropical storm warnings along our coast. Hurricane Ida had her course set dead for the Pensacola area. I don't ever recall in my 34 years of fishing in the northern Gulf of Mexico to have a hurricane barreling down upon us in November and two days later a cold front with temperatures in the 50's. Needless to say, mother nature will always do exactly what she wants to and we have no choice but to bear the consequences.

Everyone has been asking, "did the storm bring in the groupers to the shallow wrecks as in the past?" Sorry to say, we fished three consecutive days just after the storm passed and have yet to find a grouper in shallow. There does seem to be a few on the 29 edge and all the wrecks and natural bottom south of the edge.

Tropical Storm Ida did bring in some beautiful blue water, The color change begins about 15 miles offshore and get better the further you go. There has been reports of White Marlin still in fairly close around the edge and south to the nipple along the 100 fathom curve. The Wahoo have also moved in with this color change and I heard the "Anna Marie" out of Orange Beach captured a 102 pound Wahoo 7 miles south of their pass on a returning trip from the rigs. Capt. Eddie Lively aboard the "Lively One II" returned to the dock this past Saturday with a very impressive catch of Black Fin Tuna caught on an overnight trip down around the rigs.

ABOVE: Calvary Chapel lady anglers caught a boat load of triggerfish aboard the Entertainer The bottom fishing for Vermilion Snapper is really good around most all the public wrecks in 90 to 100 feet of water and deeper. The edge and bottom to the southwest is also holding a lot of Vermilions and Scamp. The most common method for catching Vermilion Snapper is using a two drop rig, with number 8 or 9 circle hooks, and a 12 ounce weight. Squid is always the best bait of choice for Vermilion Snapper. The same rig can also be used for Trigger fish as well. They tend to stay up above the wrecks a little higher in the water column, so don't go all the way down to the bottom when trying for Triggers.

AT RIGHT: Rose Weaver shows off her Triggerfish This past Saturday, we took 22 ladies fishing from Calvary Chapel in Gulf Breeze out for a day of fishing aboard the "Entertainer" and boy did they catch the fish. Despite the closure of Red Snapper and Greater Amberjack, they brought home nearly 300 pounds of fish. They caught some really nice Trigger fish and a load of Vermilion Snapper. They also released ,with no doubt, around 400 Red snapper and a couple of Amberjacks in the 30 to 40 pound range. Fun was had by all and ladies you all really showed up the guys.

Inshore, the Flounder are running out of the passes in full force to spawn. Small slip sinkers, with a two to three foot flourocarbon leader and any kind of small live bait you can find this time of year will guarantee you a Flounder bite around the pass. Also the Redfish are showing up in large schools as the normally do this time of year. Traveling up and down the bays and around the passes, keep a sharp lookout for the diving Pelicans. When you see these birds, you can almost bet every time there will be Redfish underneath them. You can try casting most any plug or golden colored spoon into the school and let it sink a ways and work it back to the boat and you'll be on. Another great way to catch these Redfish is trolling. A stretch 25 or 30 lure is also a deadly bait trolled about 3 to 4 knots. Most all of these fish are larger than the legal slot limit, but they are surely fun to catch and release.

I know turkey day is just around the corner, but the fishing should remain very good here through mid December. Just take along some warm clothing and a little fowl weather gear for those chilly mornings. After that turkey dinner give us a call and see if we can get you out for a day of fishing on one of our boats. I will have the "Big Zulu" down in Key West for the winter months, so if anyone would like to try a trip down there, give us a call or check us on the web at www.entertainercharterspnscom.

As we always say aboard the Entertainer "May the good fishing be yours."