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Saltwater & Coast

Pensacola Bay Fishing Guide

Florida

A Panhandle bay system with bull redfish runs, speckled trout, and fall flounder.

Trip at a Glance

Anglers come to Pensacola Bay for redfish, speckled trout and flounder. The best months overall are Mar to May, Sep to Nov. In October, redfish, speckled trout and flounder are in season, and Walking Topwater, Paddle-Tail Swimbait and Bucktail Jig are a good place to start. There are 12 shops within 45 miles; the closest is Hotspots Bait & Tackle in Gulf Breeze, 2 mi away. Destin Passes is 38 mi away if you want to make a trip of it.

Best Months

Mar to May, Sep to Nov

In October

Redfish, Speckled Trout, Flounder

Methods

Spin, cast & bait

Season at a Glance

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F
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M
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J
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S
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What You'll Catch

Pensacola Bay Species

Redfish

Prime Now
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Best: Mar to May, Sep to Nov

Speckled Trout

Prime Now
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Best: Mar to May, Oct to Dec

Flounder

Prime Now
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F
M
A
M
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J
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S
O
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D

Best: Apr to May, Sep to Nov

Plan by Month

What to Use

Month
Fish

9 picks for October. ● means in season that month.

  • Paddle-Tail Swimbait 3 to 5 in

    Lure

    Soft Plastic · Flounder, Speckled Trout, Redfish

    Shop This Lure

  • Walking Topwater 4 to 5 in

    Lure

    Topwater · Speckled Trout, Redfish · Big trout at dawn.

    Shop This Lure

  • Popping Cork Rig 18 to 30 in leader

    Lure

    Rig · Speckled Trout, Redfish

    Shop This Lure

  • Bucktail Jig 1/4 to 2 oz

    Lure

    Jig · Flounder

    Shop This Lure

  • Weedless Gold Spoon 1/4 to 1/2 oz

    Lure

    Spoon · Redfish

    Shop This Lure

  • Live Shrimp 2 to 4 in

    Bait

    Live Bait · Speckled Trout, Redfish

  • Live Minnows 1 to 3 in

    Bait

    Live Bait · Flounder · Mud minnows or finger mullet.

  • Sand Fleas Small

    Bait

    Live Bait · Redfish · Surf.

  • Cut Mullet Chunk or strip

    Bait

    Natural Bait · Redfish · Surf and passes.

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Rod & Reel

Recommended Setups

Redfish

Fly 9 ft 8 wt rod, floating redfish line, 16 to 20 lb fluorocarbon leader.

Spin / Cast 7 ft medium spinning rod, 3000 reel, 15 lb braid with a 20 lb fluorocarbon leader.

Speckled Trout

Fly 9 ft 7 wt rod, floating or intermediate line, 15 lb leader, Clousers and shrimp flies.

Spin / Cast 7 ft medium-light spinning rod, 2500 reel, 10 lb braid with a 15 to 20 lb fluorocarbon leader.

Flounder

Spin / Cast 7 ft medium-light spinning rod, 3000 reel, 15 lb braid, Carolina rig or bucktail.

Matched to These Species

Gear for Pensacola Bay

Floats & Rigs

Cajun Thunder Popping Cork

The clacking cork that calls trout and reds to shrimp or a soft plastic.

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Reels

Penn Battle III Spinning Reel

A metal-bodied reel built to survive saltwater and big runs.

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Jigs

Spro Bucktail Jigs

Durable hair jigs for stripers, fluke, and anything that eats baitfish.

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Rods

Penn Battalion II Inshore Spinning Rod

A medium inshore rod for jigs, popping corks, and live bait.

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Line

PowerPro Spectra Braided Line

Thin, strong braid for long casts, sensitivity, and pulling fish from cover.

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Soft Plastics

Berkley Gulp! Shrimp

Scented shrimp that out-fish plain plastics on a jighead or under a cork.

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Soft Plastics

Z-Man DieZel MinnowZ

A tough, stretchy paddle tail that survives toothy fish.

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Sunglasses

Costa Polarized Fishing Sunglasses

Polarized lenses cut glare so you can see fish, structure, and flats.

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Within 45 Miles

Shops Near Pensacola Bay

Make It a Trip

Nearby Water

Saltwater & Coast · Florida · 38 mi

Destin Passes

East Pass, between Choctawhatchee Bay and the Gulf. Redfish, seatrout, and sheepshead.

Redfish · Speckled trout · Sheepshead

Saltwater & Coast · Alabama · 51 mi

Mobile Bay

A broad estuary where redfish, speckled trout, and fall flounder runs draw anglers to the piers, causeway, and marshes.

Redfish · Speckled Trout · Flounder