Going to Pensacola this weekend

[Hotpins300]

First time going to fish in Pensacola. Bringing the boat (15 ft duracraft 28 hp). Any suggestions on where to go for trout, reds or flounder? Any general advice will do, thanks.

[Steve Stinson]

I used to work for Baskerville-Donovan Engineering in Pens and have to visit their home office a lot. I would leave downtown Pensacola and go across the bridge to Gulf Breeze. Just as you exit the bridge on the right hand side is a hotel where I would spend the night.
If I waded out the back side of the hotel and headed West down the shoreline there is a point where four channels come together. It would hold large trout in the Winter time.

If that option didn't work, I would continue through Gulf Breeze on US-98. The highway turns Easterly after you exit the bridge. After the curve on the right, there is a public park. Along that shoreline there were several good grass beds that held trout. I am not sure how well the grass would be growing right now. This was more of a warm weather spot.

You can see both of these areas on Google Earth if you take a look. Also in Gulf Breeze is a small local tackle shop on the right heading South, past the McDonald's. Those guys were pretty good about pointing me in the right direction.

Good Luck -
Steve Stinson
President, NFGFC

[Hotpins300]

Great advice Steve. Thanks so much

[silverking]

Will try this again. Site is very slow and won't load well this pm. Maybe some maintenance going on??

Pensacola is my old stomping grounds. The park Steve is talking about is the Naval Live Oaks on Hwy 98. Great springtime spot, but slow now. There could be reds all along the shoreline of the GINS from Gulf Breeze to Navarre.

The shop is Gulf Breeze Bait and Tackle.

With your rig, I'd focus on upper Pensacola Bay in the Escambia River and tributaries. I've had days there with trout on every cast, plus a good mix of reds and maybe some LM bass. Several ramps on the road leading to Milton. There's also a ramp near Mulet Bayou just before the bay bridge east that offers close access, too.

Another option would be the ramp at Big Lagoon State Park on the ICW. Trout, reds and some monster sheepshead around the bridge leading to Perdido Key. My best sheepie, 14 pounds, was caught there.

Have fun. Great place to fish.

[Hotpins300]

Awesome, I looked everything up on google and it looks good. That whole area looks great for a small boat like mine, thanks guys.

[onefishtwofish]

there is also a forum for fishing in AL and Pensacola area. Lots of useful info over there. I used it for my trip to Choc bay to preplan and it helped a lot.

[DHaun]

I have fished that area a few times and went on a trip last November. I am not sure what all may have changed since then, but on my last visit we located bull reds, false albacore, and snappers in the pass. There were also loads of white trout with a few reds near the 3-mile bridge, which has a nearby ramp and one of the places I would target in my 19ft scout if I was going. Good Luck!

http://vimeo.com/32629208[/video]