Bama Boys Invade PCB - Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report | Lyssna här

This special episode of the Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report brings together Joe Baya, Butch Thierry, Dr. Dylan Kiene, Capt. Tanner Deas, and Capt. Branden Collier for a recap of the "Bama Boys" trip to Panama City Beach. The crew talks through what it is like for Alabama anglers to bring their own boat to the Emerald Coast, learn a different style of bottom fishing, and target gag grouper, red grouper, snapper, triggerfish, and other species on natural bottom instead of the artificial reefs and rigs they are used to fishing closer to home.

The conversation starts with bait, where Branden and Butch describe stumbling into a huge cloud of pinfish, white trout, hardtails, and other bait near St. Andrews Pass. That lucky bait stop ended up being a major part of the trip, especially once the crew realized that live pinfish were the ticket for gag grouper. From there, the group digs into what made the Panama City Beach fishery feel so different: closer natural bottom, fewer red snapper compared to Alabama, strong red grouper numbers, lots of triggerfish, spread-out ledges and low-relief structure, and grouper bites that often came only after a long soak.

The guys also break down what they learned from fishing rough conditions, losing fish in the rocks, experimenting with 60- and 100-pound leader, using live bait versus slow-pitch jigs, and trying to understand how grouper move across natural bottom. They talk through the value of local knowledge, electronics, public numbers, drifting versus spot-locking, and how one good rock can change the whole day. The trip was not without problems, including trolling motor trouble, engine trouble, a flat tire, a broken rod, and a late-night boat-plug mishap, but the crew still came home with a solid box of fish, a pile of lessons, and a stronger appreciation for safety gear, Sea Tow, VHF radios, and being prepared offshore.

The episode closes with Tom Hilton of Hilton's Offshore Charts joining Joe and Butch for a detailed look at the offshore setup in the Northern Gulf. Tom explains how to read chlorophyll, sea surface temperature, altimetry, current edges, and historical satellite shots to understand where blue water, bait, and pelagic fish may be moving. The discussion focuses on the water setting up from the Destin and Alabama side toward the Nipple, 131 Hole, Nakika, Blind Faith, and nearby offshore structure, with practical insight into how anglers can use Hilton's trip-planning tools to make better decisions before burning fuel.