Fishing Report January 2016

Inshore
With the cold weather finally hanging around now’s the time to hit the local bayous, rivers, and canals in search of speckled trout. Artificial lures work really well during the winter months, but remember that you have to use a super slow retrieve.
If you want steady action, there is not better option than white trout fishing around the Pensacola Bay Bridge. You might also hook into an occasional redfish or black drum as well.
A decent amount of slot size redfish are being caught right now in Escambia Bay and the mouth of Escambia River. The best approach for fishing this area is to go along the bank casting artificial lures.
Offense
As usual we’re seeing a lot of heavy winds and rough seas, but according to a few reports the bite has been pretty good from the bottom dwellers.
If you can catch a weather window and get out there you should be able to find plenty of amberjack, triggerfish, and vermillion snapper.
There’s also been a few flounder on the shallow water wrecks out in the Gulf. Spots like the Three Barges and Joe Patti reef are worth trying if you’re looking for flounder.
Piers & Beach
The north wind and cold weather is the right recipe for bonita fishing on the Pensacola Beach Gulf Fishing Pier and Navarre Beach Fishing Pier.
Good numbers of white trout and redfish are being caught off the Pensacola Bay Fishing Bridge. As I’ve said before a lot of times the bite at night will be better than during the day.
Freshwater
January is one of the best months to fish for striped bass on Esccambia and Blackwater Rivers. According to a few of the regular striper fisherman your best bet is to be on the water before sunrise and fish around the entrances to the ponds and creeks.