Gulf Breeze Guide Service photo gallery

Spring 2008 arrived with both inshore and nearshore fishing red hot. The sheepshead bite was going full steam, slot redfish were active around the docks, the pompano migration was in high gear, and bull reds were feeding on shallow sandbars. By mid-April the jack crevalle arrived adding an extra adrenaline rush to the average day. Big Spanish mackerel provided thrills for both fly and light-tackle anglers, and we were successful finding red snappers and grouper in Pensacola Bay. Here are some photos from the first half of the spring season. For photos from previous seasons, check out these additional galleries: Winter 2008, Fall 2007, Summer 2007, Spring 2007, Winter 2007, Fall 2006, Summer 2006, Spring 2006, Winter 2006, Spring 2005, Summer 2005, Fall 2005. Click on any of the small images below to see the full size photos. Use the back button on your browser to return to this page.

	Scott Gross of Mt. Houb, WI, landed the all time boat record five pound plus pompano on March 23. We released this magnificent fish unharmed.
	Here's a happy Gary Stephens, Knoxville, TN, on March 25 with the 2008 boat record 7 3/4 pound sheepshead.
	Gary's son Phillip Stephens and the fish of the day on March 25.
	The Fisher family came all the way from Boise for some fun in the sun on March 26. Debra scored big with the all time boat record redfish. Click on this thumbnail to check out the girth of this rare spot-less redfish.
	Jana Fisher also enjoyed landing the biggest fish of her life on March 26.
	Greg Fisher was content catching numerous sheepshead and letting the ladies do the heavy lifting.
	This is Beth Rice, Lexington, KY, after winning a hard-fought battle on April 1.
	Mike Rice and daughter Tresslyn got into the hot redfish action on April 1.
	Bob Parker of Clarkesville, GA, had to thread the rod in and out of pilings to bring this nice slot redfish to the net. We released the fish to fight again.
	This is Jason Cornell, USMC, taking a break from training at NAS to go fishing with his family from Chicago. Jason's holding a 7 3/4 pound sheepshead which ties the 2008 boat record.
	Here's Jason's wife Dayna with a fine catch on April 12.
	Jason's brother Joe got in the action with this sheepshead and many others.
	Pensacola's Billy Kroll with the first bad-to-the-bone jack crevalle of 2008 landed on April 15. Way to go, Billy!
	Larry Bryant of Gulf Breeze Electric Company added this 8 pound snapper to his and Billy's cooler on April 15 along with ten pompano, an 8 pound grouper, and three additional red snappers. It was quite an inshore haul on opening day of snapper season.
	This is a super shot of Larry Green of Kansas City, MO and the first jack crevalle on fly of 2008. This fish exploded on a big popper, and Larry had his hands full for about twenty minutes. He landed this fish on a Sage XiII 12 wt and Tibor Gulfstream. You'll also find this photo on the Tibor Reel website.
	Rod Bouchard from Isle of Palms, SC, hooked this fish on a pink jig while pompano fishing on a choppy April 18.
	David Ermer from Peachtree City, GA, and one of many big Spanish mackeral caught and released on April 18.
	Here's Richie Mahoney with the first fish ever caught in his whole life. We're talking about a watershed event here. Congratulations, Richie!
	Everybody's smiling about Richie's first catch, especially Mr. Sheepshead who learned he was being released.
	Aaron Banther, USN, landed his first jack crevalle on April 19 with moral support from long time friends Antoine Miller and Terrance Gogins.
	Antoine Miller of Richmond, KY and "today's fresh catch" headed for the dinner table.
	Terrance Gogins of Grier, SC, claimed to be the unluckiest fisherman alive, but he was quick to add this fine sheepshead to the cooler on April 19. Good job, "T"!
	The man hiding behind that pompano is Greg Catalano from Acton, MA. This is the first pompano landed on fly of 2008.
	Greg added this nice fly-caught bluefish to the day's tally. The water was Bahamas clear on April 22, and the sight-fishing was outstanding.
	The following day was a family day for the Catalanos, and here's Jenna Catalano with a sheepshead on steroids. We released this fish to catch another day.
	The catch of the day on April 23 belonged to Hannah Moffie of Boston, MA, with sister Carly (seated) and cousins Jenna and Sarah Kate Catalano.
	Bruce Martin drove down from Murphysboro, Illinois, for a week of fishing with a couple of buddies. Here's Bruce on April 29 with one of six pompano headed for the cooler.
	Here's an exceptional shot taken April 29 of Mike Huber from Portland, OR, with a soon to be released jack crevalle. This photograph showcases the incredibly white sandy beaches and turquoise water of our Emerald Coast.
	Tom Zavoral, a displaced Montana fly fisherman, was initiated into the salt on April 30. Tom began the day catching and releasing Spanish mackerel like this one.
	A little later Tom landed his first pompano. This fish ate a tan/white Clouser minnow on 40 pound fluorocarbon tippet. So much for pompano being leader shy .....
	The fish of the day on April 30 was this fine jack crevalle. We were sight-fishing for redfish when a small school of jacks appeared on the bar heading for us. Tom laid out the perfect cast, the jack ate the fly, and we got the picture to prove it. This is the first jack caught on a yellow pompano rocket.
	Kim Dillworth from Charlotte, NC, caught and released this beautiful 24 inch speckled trout on May 1. The female trout was full of roe. Congratulations to Kim for releasing it unharmed.