Pensacola is known for many things including its history in Naval Aviation, sugar white beaches, the Blue Angles, and of course red snapper. Beyond the red snapper fishing the Florida Panhandle gets heavily over looked for its fishery. We may not have the bonefish of Key West, the tarpon of Tampa, or the speckled trout of Mosquito Lagoon, but if you’re looking for fun you have found the right spot.

Pensacola anglers fish from a number of different bodies of water including the Gulf of Mexico, Pensacola Bay, Intracoastal Waterway, Escambia Bay, Santa Rosa Sound, Big Lagoon, East Bay, and several large river systems that run into the backwater bays.

Fishing the bays, bayous, and flats you can expect to catch redfish, speckled trout, and flounder on a regular basis. As the seasons change you will need to change the areas where you fish. During the summer the fish can be found on the grass flats, but when winter rolls around they move into the canals, bayous, and rivers looking for warmer water.

A plethora of other species can be found inshore fishing as well including Spanish mackerel, sheepshead, black snapper, red snapper, grouper, white trout, croakers, king mackerel, black drum, and much more.

Amberjack, grouper, snapper, and triggerfish can be caught bottom fishing off Pensacola in the Gulf of Mexico. There are tons of wrecks and reefs out there to fish, one of the most popular is the USS Oriskany, which is a huge aircraft carrier that was turned into a reef several years ago.

There is some good action to be had trolling as well. Near shore trolling you can expect to catch king mackerel and bonita. Further offshore you will find a variety of different species like blue marlin, white marlin, sailfish, wahoo, dolphin, and tuna.

If you’re land locked there is plenty of fun to be had at the local piers, beaches, and bridges in Pensacola. Depending on the time of year you can catch a variety of different species. The Pensacola Bay Fishing Bridge and Pensacola Beach Gulf Fishing Pier are a couple great places where you can usually find steady action.

Pensacola Bay Fishing Bridge was destroyed by Hurricane Ivan and was rebuilt and opened about two years ago. Its located parallel to the Pensacola Bay Bridge that runs from Pensacola to Gulf Breeze. The cost is $5 per car/person and $2 for each additional passenger or walk-on fisherman. There is no charge to walk-on and watch or jog. A license is included in the entrance fee.

Pensacola Beach Gulf Fishing Pier is located at the heart of Pensacola Beach next to the Casino Beach parking lot. A fishing license is included in the $7.50 entry fee and those who want to just observe can get on for $1.25.

To learn more about fishing in the Panhandle visit www.pensacolafishing.com . There you will find fishing reports, GPS numbers, tackle stores, charter boats, clubs, marina, regulations, records, tournaments, seminars, weather, and tides.

Author Bio: Captain Chris Phillips has spent his entire life fishing Pensacola Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. He owns Hot Spots Charters in Pensacola and Hot Spots Bait and Tackle in Gulf Breeze. Captain Phillips provides everything you need to know about Pensacola Fishing at Pensacola Fishing

Category: Recreation
Keywords: pensacola fishing, fishing, pensacola, hot spots charters, hot spots bait and tackle