In this week's Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya covers a challenging early-summer pattern shaped by heavy rain, dirty "root beer" water, wind, changing bait behavior, inshore trout and redfish tactics, red snapper season, offshore dolphin and shark pressure, mahi around scattered grass, and wahoo opportunities. This episode features Capt. Evan Wheeler with Tall Pines Tight Lines in the Pensacola area and Capt. Tyler Massey with Hot Spots Charters.
Capt. Evan Wheeler breaks down the Pensacola inshore report, where recent rain, dirty water, wind, and a lack of visual life have made trout and redfish fishing highly variable. He explains how he reads birds, bait, tides, solunar periods, current, water clarity, boat traffic, and "trout sky" conditions when obvious signs are missing. Evan also talks about prospecting with lures like the MirrOlure 17MR and Slick Junior, adjusting depth as water temperatures climb, and why he prefers releasing speckled trout over 20 inches to protect breeder fish.
Capt. Tyler Massey gives the Pensacola offshore report, where red snapper season is off to a solid start when weather allows boats to get out. He explains how sharks and dolphins are affecting state-water and federal-water snapper spots, why anglers may need to make longer moves between areas, and how live bait like cigar minnows and LYs can help produce steady keeper fish. Tyler also discusses targeting larger snapper with big dead baits like Boston mackerel and butterflied white snapper, plus mahi fishing around larger grass patches, scattered grass challenges, and recent wahoo bites around the offshore FADs.
Sponsors:
EMS Endeck PVC Decking
Dixie Supply and Baker Metal
Admiral Shellfish
Coastal Connection EXP Realty - Abaco Orange Beach
AFTCO
SlipSki Solutions
Black Buffalo
Hilton's Realtime Navigator
Deep South Cranes
Pure Flats - Slick Lures
