Episode #335
Blue Marlin, Bull Reds, Pompano, and Post-Storm Fishing
In this week's Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya covers improving offshore water after a tropical system, post-storm bottom fishing around Panama City, late-summer inshore action in Choctawhatchee Bay, and dirty surf conditions from Pensacola to Navarre. This episode features Tom Hilton of Hilton's Realtime Navigator , Capt. Myles Colley aboard It Just Takes Time , Capt. Harris Scruggs with Triple B Fishing Charters , Capt. Blake Nelson with Reel30A , and Justin Reed Fishing . Tom Hilton starts with the offshore conditions report, where the tropical system helped break up the freshwater and dirty river water that had spread across much of the northern Gulf. He explains how to combine chlorophyll imagery, sea-surface temperatures, altimetry, current, structure, and bait to locate productive water. Tom also covers how to use one-day, three-day, and seven-day satellite images, why organized color changes can hold bait and predators, and how offshore structures can continue producing even when they sit inside less-favorable altimetry. Capt. Myles Colley breaks down the current offshore billfish pattern after a tournament performance that included five blue marlin, six sailfish, and a white marlin. He explains why current speed and direction are his most important offshore factors, why he prefers counterclockwise or incoming current, and when he will leave an unproductive area for a completely different body of water. Miles also discusses trolling teasers, pitching ballyhoo and larger natural baits, using live bait and sonar for blue marlin, and applying enough drag to keep big fish from settling into a long fight. He closes with the story of an estimated grander blue marlin hooked near the Nipple and Elbow that measured approximately 154 inches and was released after an eight-hour fight. Capt. Harris Scruggs covers the Panama City offshore report, where the storm created dirty, silty water and a major increase in sail cats and hardhead catfish. Red grouper remain available on deeper natural bottom, while triggerfish numbers have been inconsistent ahead of the season reopening. Harris explains why he deploys a flat line and knocker rig at every stop, how casting a one- to three-ounce knocker rig up-current allows it to cover the water column, and why dead bait has recently outperformed live bait for snapper and grouper. He also discusses scaling down to 30- or 40-pound fluorocarbon on pressured fish and using multi-hook rigs to fire up natural bottom before sending down larger baits. Capt. Blake Nelson reports that Choctawhatchee Bay fishing has remained productive, but rapidly developing thunderstorms have made weather awareness the biggest concern. Large schools of jack crevalle and bull redfish are feeding on pogies and greenies around Rocky Bayou, Boggy Bayou, Joe's Bayou, Marler Bayou, and the East Pass. Blake explains how to target them with 20- to 30-pound braid, heavier leaders, topwater plugs, and large swimbaits. Trout, slot redfish, and mangrove snapper are holding around grass, sandy pockets, docks, and deeper cuts, while summer dock-light fishing has been especially productive with live bait and quarter-ounce glow DOA shrimp. Justin Reed wraps up with the surf report, where anglers must locate cleaner water to escape heavy catfish activity and find pompano, ladyfish, whiting, and other desirable species. He recommends scouting multiple beach accesses, walking shallow points when necessary, and casting beyond the dirty water. Cut ladyfish on a fish-finder rig has been producing redfish and bluefish close to the beach, while pompano have been keyed in on sand fleas and orange floats, beads, hooks, or Fishbites. Justin also explains why pyramid sinkers hold better than egg sinkers in strong west-wind current and why frequent bait checks remain important during the summer. Sponsors: Pike Consulting EMS Endeck PVC Decking Dixie Supply and Baker Metal Admiral Shellfish Sea Tow Coastal Connection EXP Realty - Abaco Orange Beach SlipSki Solutions Black Buffalo Hilton's Realtime Navigator Deep South Cranes Pure Flats - Slick Lures
