Grays Tackle and Guide Service
13019 Sorrento Rd #2 Pensacola, FL 32507 (850) 492-2666
So Many Fish in the Sea, the Bays, the Bayous and the Lakes around Pensacola
Deep sea fishing is part of the fabric of Pensacola, the unofficial Red Snapper Capital of the world. But there are so many other ways to get your fish on here, and so many beautiful, delicious fish in our Gulf, bays and waterways.
Early-morning sun ripples in the emerald green waters of Pensacola Bay as the 55-foot charter boat plods past Fort Pickens on its way through Pensacola Pass. Sipping coffee along the railing, I can see anglers along the iconic Fort Pickens pier and others dotting the shore. They’re fishing for redfish. Pods of dolphin fish here too — often you can see them leaping alongside the charter boats as they head out the pass. The thrumming from the charter boat’s engine increases as the captain points the boat south, past the NAS lighthouse and into the Gulf. We’re going fishing.
Deep sea fishing is part of the fabric of Pensacola, the unofficial Red Snapper Capital of the world. But there are so many other ways to get your fish on here, and so many beautiful, delicious fish in our Gulf, bays and waterways.
So come on, let’s go fishing!
Yes, There are Regs for That!
First thing first, you might wonder about our regulations. And yes, there are a lot of them! But it’s all done with the preservation of the species prioritized so we can keep our fisheries and all species sustainable.
The red snapper seasons, along with short stoppages on flounder, grouper and triggerfish, all have sustainability in mind. One of the biggest set of rules protects our redfish. It’s one of the few species that you have to release the ones that are too large. Yes, those large females are key to helping the once-overfished redfish recover in Florida, so the slot size to keep a red is 21 to 27 inches, which happens to be perfect for blackened redfish dinners!
Go to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission site, MyFWC.com, or download their FISH RULES APP and get all the regs and guidelines at your fingertips before heading out!
Gear up
Don’t fish unprepared! Go to Gray’s Tackle on Perdido Key, or join the experts at the locals’ favorite, Outcast Bait and Tackle on Barrancas Avenue in west Pensacola.
Outcast Tackle and Marine
3520 Barrancas Ave Pensacola, FL 32507 (850) 457-1450
Lost Key Outdoors
12890 Gulf Beach Hwy #8917 Pensacola, FL 32507 (850) 361-1145
Offshore Reef Fishing
Red snapper has a short season, determined by recreational quotas established to prevent overfishing and help the species recover, but don’t fret if Red Snapper is closed. There are so many other species to catch — and many species of snapper. Lane, mangrove, Cubera, yellow and vermilion (mingo) snapper are just as delectable, while numerous grouper species and tenacious Amberjack and Cobia are delicious and challenging targets for offshore reef fishing.
You can book private charters out of Pensacola, Pensacola Beach and Perdido area marinas, or join the larger groups on party boats. The private charters typically cost more but can provide a more intimate experience.
We recommend taking at least a 6-hour trip to maximize your experience. Trip time includes transition out the pass to the fishing spots which are often several miles offshore.
Big Game!
If you want to take the challenge of big game fishing, take a blue-water quest. About 35 miles offshore at a place called The Nipple, sandy seafloor plunges dramatically into the depths of the Gulf, where rock formations create currents that attract baitfish — which in turn bring large predators. Prized gamefish such as billfish, tuna, wahoo and mahi mahi prowl here and other spots, offering the fight of your life — if you’re fortunate enough to experience it. This is the real sport of kings and queens.
During March and early April, the cobia migrations bring a big-game challenge closer to shore. Specialized charters can take you on a cobia hunt.
Glory along Our Shores and Piers
Our beaches, bridges and piers are teeming with saline and ample plate-worthy fishing targets.
Rivers, bays, and bayous rich with nutrients flow into the Gulf, luring a bounty of fish species. Redfish, black drum, speckled trout, and flounder cruise the inshore waters and bays. Our beach's sloping shoreline lets you relax while your bait waits for a passing pompano.
Bottom line: you can get your fish on in any of our beautiful waterways. Some great spots include Fort Pickens and Johnson Beach, Perdido Key State Recreation Area and Pensacola Beach.
Fort Pickens Fishing Pier
Fort Pickens Fishing Pier
Known as the most popular place to fish in the Fort Pickens area. The fishing pier stretches out 200 feet into Pensacola Bay. It is a great place to catch fish, view dolphins, or watch the sunset.
The Fort Pickens Area Fishing Pier is a licensed pier. You do not need a license if you are fishing for recreational purposes from a pier that has a valid saltwater pier fishing license. Please abide by Florida state fishing regulations and practice leave no trace.
Fishing Pier Rules:
- Limit two poles or one pole, one cast net per person.
Prohibited:
- Fishing by bow, spear gun or Hawaiian slings.
- Alcohol, pets, glass, generators, texts, canopies, or any other shelter.
Fort Pickens — Gulf Islands National Seashore
Fort Pickens — Gulf Islands National Seashore
Fort Pickens is one of four military forts designed to protect Pensacola in the 1800s. Located on Pensacola Beach on the Gulf Islands National Seashore, Fort Pickens is accessible by foot and boat and is open year-round from sunrise to sunset. Entrance fees are required and collected upon admittance into the park. The Fort Pickens area is anchored by the historic landmark and offers many recreational activities including fishing both from the shore and the pier, exploring trails and the fort, birdwatching, camping and so much more. A visitor information center is located at the west end of the island and includes a history museum on the area.
Entrance fees are required and collected at the following areas of Gulf Islands National Seashore: Fort Pickens Area, Opal Beach at the Santa Rosa Area, Okaloosa Area, Fort Barrancas Area, and Perdido Key Area. All Interagency America the Beautiful passes are accepted for entry into these areas.
Commercial Groups Per vehicle (capacity 6 or less).…$25 plus; $10 per person An entrance pass is good for one to seven days at all locations. Interagency passes waive all entrance fees. Frequent visitors may be interested in the park’s annual pass which provides access to the national seashore during normal operating hours for twelve months from the date of purchase. Educational groups should visit our Educational Programs page for educational fee waivers. Park Annual Pass.….….….….….….….….….….….….….…..$45 |
Johnson Beach — Gulf Islands National Seashore
Johnson Beach — Gulf Islands National Seashore
Johnson Beach is a designated recreational area in Perdido Key on the Gulf Islands National Seashore. The location provides lifeguards, facilities and a parking lot and is ideal for water-based recreational activities and hiking. The park includes parking areas, seven accessible boardwalks, a pavilion, and a 1/2‑mile bike/pedestrian trail.
Perdido Key State Park
Perdido Key State Park
Perdido Key State Park is a 290-acre Florida State Park located on a barrier island known as Perdido Key. Visitors can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities, including swimming, fishing, picnicking, and wildlife viewing in this serene natural setting.
The park’s undisturbed dunes and marshes provide essential habitat for nesting shorebirds and sea turtles, making it a vital conservation area along the Gulf of Mexico. At Perdido Key State Park, you can explore diverse ecosystems like dunes, marshes, and coastal forests, providing ample opportunities for nature enthusiasts and birdwatchers.
Pensacola Beach
For me, pompano, redfish, flounder and the brutally ugly but incredibly tasty sheepshead top the list. In spring and summer, pompano prowl the shoreline often foraging around sandbars or little troughs in shallow water. These hard-fighting silver-sided cousins of the jack crevalle and amberjack are shaped like dinner plates — which is fitting because they are worthy of any chef. Among the finest fish you can eat! They are suckers for live shrimp or sand fleas — tiny crustaceans which can be dug up along the shore or at a local tackle shop. Best thing about these fish is you wade out into the water, cast your line, and relax on the beach.
Sheepshead are a popular catch near the pilings of bridges and piers. Aptly named, their “sheep-like” molars are made for crunching crab shells and other crustaceans.
Flounder are a tasty meal that you can especially catch in the fall in nearshore waters or piers. A popular spot is the bayside and inlet along the promenade at Community Maritime Park.
Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier
The iconic, storm-tested Pensacola Gulf Pier, which spans a quarter-mile into the Gulf, is a showpiece for fishing and photos. The one-stop shop carries bait, rental gear and advice for the fish that are biting at the time. It’s a great place for Spanish mackerel, sheepshead, pompano, flounder and even the occasional cobia. It also offers a beautiful vista for sunsets and, on the occasional Sundays, a flyby from the Blue Angels when they return home from a show.
Remember that iconic pier we mentioned at the start of the blog? Fort Pickens hosts numerous fish habitats. The fort’s fishing pier is perched on Pensacola Pass, where Pensacola Bay converges with the Gulf. During the right conditions, it hosts massive redfish during the fall, and Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, flounder, and other species in the summer. Use live shrimp and fiddler crabs to fish for sheepshead around the pilings. Either side of the pier lets you fish the protected bay waters, or walk around the point to surf-fish for pompano.
Bays, Bayous and Freshwater Fishing
You can catch freshwater and saltwater fish in some of our area bayous, depending on the tides and conditions. Speckled sea trout, redfish and flounder can be found in the salty and brackish areas, while bass and bluegills can be found farther up the Escambia River, the fourth largest river in Florida. It harbors 85 native freshwater species, including sportfish such as shadow bass, warmouth, bluegill, longear, redear and spotted sunfish — and spotted bass, largemouth bass and catfish species. Big Escambia Creek and Pine Barren Creek have excellent spotted bass populations that are rarely exploited.
One such spot is in Cantonment. Becks Lake, actually a deep bayou of the Escambia River, has been the favorite place for most area fresh water anglers for over 50 years and is one of the hidden gems as one of the best fishing spots in Northwest Florida. You can fish from the bank or by boat, with bass, bluegill catfish and more ready to take your bait.
Take a trip for a sure catch at Steve’s Catfish Farm in Walnut Hill, about 45 minutes from Pensacola, Steve’s Catfish Farm will never disappoint. You can catch-and-release or pay per pound. Fun for the family!
Big Lagoon State Park
Big Lagoon State Recreation Area is a popular inshore spot for redfish and speckled sea trout, while you can use a cast net to catch mullet in just about any of our bayous and bays.
Lake Stone Campground
Lake Stone Campground is a 100-acre campground and boat ramp facility located in the northern end of Escambia County. The campground has 77 campsites for everything from big RV rigs to tents. Recently updated to accommodate the more modern and much larger RV’s, Lake Stone is the County’s only facility located on a fresh water lake. Its facilities include a boat ramp (gasoline engines are not allowed to be used on Lake Stone), indoor public use building, a playground, showers, restrooms, a fishing pier, security lights, electrical and water hookups, a sewage dump station, picnic areas and a beautiful view of Lake Stone.
From offshore red snapper and grouper to inshore redfish and sheepshead to river bass and speckled trout, no matter the season you can get your fish on in Pensacola!
