2013 Comes to an end - Pensacola Fishing

Let me start out by thanking all my clients from 2013 for such a great year. Thank you for choosing Mega-Bite Inshore Charters for your customized fishing trip. It was a pleasure meeting you and your friends and families. I hope you had fun, and hope I helped to create some special memories that will last a lifetime.

It always amazes me on how fast the year flies by, and I can hardly believe 2014 is just a few days away. This year was a great year for fishing here on the Gulf Coast, and December was no exception.

My last trip of the year was today 12-26-2013, and brrr it was a cold one, but the fishing was red hot. Caught some big reds and then hit the trout hole for some fresh dinner for my clients to take to back to the condo for the family. It was a great way to end the year even though the weather was not the best. I’ll be back out after the New Year. Some routine maintenance to both the trailer and boat, and then back at it for 2014. I’m already booked a bunch in January and February; Spring Break is just around the corner, so start booking now.

 

Let’s talk about the big reds and what I use to hook these monsters. I use Spro Jigs 1.5 –2 oz white or pink with small 4” curly tail grubs attached. I use these jigs because of how well the jigs are made and their extra strong hooks and don’t lose fish with them.

With the New Year here I’ll be both in the upper bays and rivers doing some trout and slot red fishing, and I’ll be in the bay for the big reds. January and February are great months for big trout in the upper bay/rivers. The key to fishing the winter months in the panhandle is watching the tides and cold fronts and picking the right times to go out. As a veteran guide in our area, I pride myself on making sure your fishing trip is at the right time to provide you the best possible opportunities to catch fish.

As you can see, the fishing in the winter months in Pensacola and the surrounding areas can be very good. And if you missed out this past November or December for the big reds, buy a new 2014 calendar and then mark your calendar and make it a point to come visit me to enjoy some of the best red fishing on the planet.

Happy New Year.

John

Monster Red Fun Pensacola Bay - Mega-Bite Inshore Charters

The first week of December has been off the charts with the bulls. I’ve put the trout fishing in the upper bay areas on hold, because most of my clients are wanting to pull on big reds. Even my more advanced anglers from up north that primarily bass fish are choosing to chase the big reds. Can you blame them?  It’s some crazy-awesome-fantastic- fun action fishing! We’ve had some really foggy days and some perfectly sunny days, but so far the weather hasn’t affected the bulls’ bite. The key is to watch the tides with the reds, because even though they are here in the bay by the thousands, you have to fish moving water and good tidal movement similar like you do when fishing the flats.

I always ask what style of fishing my clients would like to do, whether they prefer artificials for trout / slot red fishing or if they would like to go after the big bulls. As soon as they hear the options, they usually can’t resist the lure of the big red trip. When else are they going to get the chance to hook in to a 30” –45” monster fish like they can during our bull redfish run?  I have to admit, it is awesome to see their faces when they see the water boil up with a huge school of reds, and when that bull strikes, they are so excited and can hardly believe the strength of these fish! I fish for these bulls with artificials only using buck tail jigs (1.5 – 2 oz Spro Jigs) and 7’ to 8’ MH to heavy spinning rods.

As I mentioned earlier in the report about the upper bay areas, the trout and redfish bite is very good in the winter. When I fish the upper bay areas, I fish all artificials with both soft and hard plastics. I’ll fish both shallow and deep holes depending upon the cold fronts.

If you do like light tackle artificials for trout and slot reds, then winter is a great time to enjoy some fun light tackle action here in Pensacola.

I’ll keep this report short and let you enjoy some fun action pics.

Till the next adventure, here’s wishing you happy holidays and

Tight Lines.

John