Northwest Florida Fishing Report cover art

Northwest Florida Fishing Report

Northwest Florida Fishing Report

Written by: Joe Baya
Listen for free

About this listen

 Joe Baya brings you the first podcast to bring you the local inshore, offshore, and onshore fishing report from Pensacola to Panama City, Florida whether it's good, bad, or ugly.2022 Copyright Great Days Outdoors Magazine
Episodes
  • Red Snapper Season Opens as Northwest Florida Fishing Heats Up Inshore and Offshore

    Red Snapper Season Opens as Northwest Florida Fishing Heats Up Inshore and Offshore
    May 14 2026

    In this week's Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya covers the start of a long red snapper season, strong vermilion snapper fishing, inshore redfish and trout patterns, and Spanish mackerel action around Destin and Choctawhatchee Bay. This episode features Capt. Harris Scruggs with Triple B Fishing Charters and Capt. Blake Nelson of Last Cast Charters.

    Capt. Harris Scruggs gives the offshore report from Panama City, where vermilion snapper fishing has been excellent and red snapper season is about to bring heavy pressure to public wrecks and reefs. He breaks down bait, tackle, wreck positioning, waypoint strategy, and why anglers should also consider scamp, mangrove snapper, triggerfish, and other bottom fish.

    Capt. Blake Nelson gives the inshore report from the Destin area, with redfish and trout on the flats, pogies becoming the easier live bait option, and Spanish mackerel still available by trolling roll-downs, bridges, and bay structure. He also shares tips on fishing unfamiliar water safely and matching lures to grass, mud, depth, and water clarity.

    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
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Surf Fishing Tactics, Bluefin Tuna Stories, and Big Trout Lessons

    Surf Fishing Tactics, Bluefin Tuna Stories, and Big Trout Lessons
    May 7 2026
    In this week's Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya is joined by co-host Angelo DePaola for a wide-open May fishing report that covers surf fishing, offshore tuna and bottom fishing, Gulf Coast real estate for anglers, and inshore big trout tactics. This episode features Justin Reed with Justin Reed Fishing, Capt. Tyler Massey with Hot Spots Charters, Angelo DePaola with Coastal Connection EXP Realty, and Capt. Evan Wheeler with Tall Pines Tight Lines. The big theme this week is that Northwest Florida anglers have a lot of good options right now, from pompano in the surf to giant bluefin tuna offshore and trophy trout inshore, but success depends on reading conditions, finding clean water, and matching the right tactics to the moment. Justin Reed breaks down the Pensacola surf fishing report, where pompano are still biting well despite June grass becoming a major factor. He explains that the recent north wind helped push the grass offshore, but returning south winds could bring it right back to the beach. Justin says the key is not necessarily finding the perfect pompano structure right now, but finding clean, fishable water. He also covers how often to check baits when grass is present, why pompano should remain available through May, how to deal with ladyfish and blue runners, and why olive-sized sand fleas are ideal when pompano are running on the smaller side. He also talks through his surf rig setup, including 20-pound mono pompano rigs, 20-pound braid main line, a 20- to 30-pound mono top shot, pyramid weights inside the bar, and why a clean braid-to-mono connection matters for repeated long casts. Capt. Tyler Massey with Hot Spots Charters gives the offshore report from Pensacola, led by the story of a 777-pound bluefin tuna caught near the FADs. Tyler explains how the crew was intentionally watching for bluefin, how they caught the fish on a live blackfin tuna, and why targeting fish that size requires serious tackle, heavy drag, strong rod holders, backing plates, and a plan for getting the fish into the boat. He also talks about seeing another bluefin during the fight, the importance of live bait around the FADs, and why these fish have become a realistic but still rare Gulf opportunity. Beyond the bluefin story, Tyler reports excellent vermilion snapper fishing, strong mangrove snapper action, and good opportunities for scamp and red grouper depending on depth, bottom type, and presentation. Angelo DePaola with Coastal Connection EXP Realty gives a Gulf Coast real estate update focused on how uncertainty, interest rates, inventory, and buyer confidence are shaping the market. He explains that the market is moving in pulses, with slower stretches followed by bursts of activity when buyers feel more comfortable. Angelo also talks about why sellers are often holding firm when properties are priced correctly, how current conditions feel more like a normal market than the unusually fast pace of recent years, and why waterfront and boating-focused properties along the Gulf Coast continue to hold long-term value. He also highlights Abaco in Orange Beach as a unique option for anglers and boaters who want a new waterfront development with boat slips, resort-style amenities, marina access, and a strong location near both inshore and offshore fishing. Capt. Evan Wheeler gives the inshore report from the Pensacola area, where the expected full moon big trout bite did not play out exactly as anticipated due to odd spring timing, a late cold front, and shifting conditions. Evan explains that big trout and redfish are still being caught, but the bite has been more about specific locations, historical knowledge, bait presentation, and precision than obvious surface activity. He breaks down how to target larger trout on purpose, including how to choose soft plastics, slick-style baits, jerk shads, topwaters, and suspending twitch baits based on depth, grass, current, water clarity, and fish behavior. Evan also gives Angelo a Chandeleur Islands tackle breakdown, recommending topwaters, mirror lures, slick-style plastics, weedless presentations, natural colors in clear water, darker or more opaque colors in dirty water, and a simple approach to covering the top, middle, and lower parts of the water column. 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
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 37 mins
  • May Pompano, Big Trout, And Offshore Weather Windows

    May Pompano, Big Trout, And Offshore Weather Windows
    Apr 30 2026

    In this week's Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya covers a spring fishing pattern shaped by cold fronts, full moon timing, surf grass, inshore trout and redfish activity, and offshore weather windows. This episode features Blake Hunter with Reel30A, Brandon Barton with Emerald Waters Kayak Charters, and Capt. Adam Peeples with One Shot Charters. The big theme this week is that May could offer strong fishing across Northwest Florida, but anglers need to adjust to changing wind, water clarity, bait availability, and sea conditions.

    Blake Hunter of Reel30A breaks down the surf bite, where pompano are still moving through and May is shaping up to be better than expected. He explains that live sand fleas remain the top bait when anglers can find them, but Fishbites, fresh dead shrimp, dead sand fleas, ghost shrimp, and blue crab knuckles can all play a role. Blake also covers how to deal with June grass, rough surf, heavier sinkers, color changes, and why anglers should run a variety of float colors and bait setups until the pompano show a clear preference.

    Brandon Barton with Emerald Waters Kayak Charters reports strong inshore action around the sound, grass flats, docks, potholes, and drop-offs. He says trout and redfish are feeding well on topwaters, wake baits, twitch baits, jerk baits, and smaller artificial shrimp when conditions get clear and fish become spooky. Brandon also explains how to fish flats from a kayak, when to downsize leader, why wake baits are so effective for covering water, and how the full moon and incoming cold front could create a good window for big speckled trout.

    Capt. Adam Peeples with One Shot Charters gives the offshore report from Destin, where rough spring weather continues to limit opportunities, but the fishing is close to breaking open. He talks through how to decide whether to run offshore based on the boat, crew, sea direction, forecast, and safety. Adam says the swordfish bite was slower than expected despite good water, while bottom fishing produced strong results, including big mangrove snapper and good tilefish action. He also notes that bait has been excellent around East Pass, Spanish mackerel fishing is strong, and king mackerel should continue improving as May progresses.

    Sponsors:

    Destin Boat & Yacht Show

    Dixie Supply and Baker Metal

    Admiral Shellfish

    Coastal Connection EXP Realty

    AFTCO

    SlipSki Solutions

    Black Buffalo

    Hilton's Realtime Navigator

    Deep South Cranes

    Pure Flats
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 17 mins
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_c
No reviews yet