Fly fishing trips (1-2 anglers)

Some people have a hard time comprehending catch-and-release fly fishing.  Why do we go to all the trouble to catch fish on a fly rod if we’re just going to let them go?  It’s a tough question that gets at the essence of hard-core fly casters.  Basically, it's about respect. Fly casters have such respect for the targeted species that we just don't want to kill them after a hard-fought battle.  Now of course it's only natural that an occasional pompano or redfish ends up in the cooler, and a legal cobia always finds its way to the dinner table.  You have to draw the line somewhere.

We have some great species to target around here.  In the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico our best sight fishing targets are pompano, redfish, sheepshead, jack crevalle, black tip sharks, false albacore, and the toughest of them all… tarpon!  In addition, there are schools of bluefish, Spanish mackerel, false albacore, and ladyfish to satisfy those anglers who prefer fishing in a feeding frenzy.  Of course, there’s also a chance in the spring to catch a cobia on fly. 

Gulf of Mexico fly fishing provides year-round action. In winter months the top attraction is redfish with schools of 15-30 pound fish searching the shallows for menhaden. These fish crash giant poppers in a heartbeat. With spring arrive the pompano and jack crevalle. And in summer months false albacore churn the surface, and we enjoy the adrenalin rush of the annual tarpon migration. Pompano return in the fall along with Spanish mackerel and bluefish. And, finally there’s the late-fall albie run when 4-6 pound  false albacore run the shore break in a foot or so of water.  These fish are every bit as strong as bonefish and look like black torpedos coming up the shoreline at you.  They will take your fly and streak away at speeds that create six-inch roostertails from your fly line.

When the Gulf is too rough to fish, we move inland and target speckled trout, redfish, Spanish mackerel, false albacore and ladyfish.  Plus we’re always on the lookout for schools of jack crevalle.  During summer months we find cobia and tripletail in the bay waters. In the winter our best inshore fly fishing is for speckled trout in the numerous bayous and canals of Gulf Breeze and Pensacola.

 

Light tackle and bottom fishing trips ( 1-2 anglers)

For anglers who have dodged the addiction of fly fishing, we offer light tackle and bottom fishing.

Our light tackle fishing starts in March when sheepshead congregate inshore in deep holes and around structure.  We use light spinning tackle and live shrimp, sand fleas or fiddler crabs for the sheepshead.  About the same time, pompano show up in the gulf. On calm days we anchor, drift or pole appropriate spots along the shoreline and cast pompano jigs or use sand fleas for the elusive pompano.  We also catch redfish in the surf during this time.  In addition, large and ravenous schools of Spanish mackerel arrive in March, and we catch them on spoons and custom jigs.  The bluefish arrive a little later and all four species remain through the summer and fall. 

Also in March, redfish begin to roam the grass and mud flats of Santa Rosa Sound and the Big Lagoon.  A couple weeks after the redfish arrive, they are joined by large speckled trout.  All this happens with the water temperature in the low 60’s.  When the water temperature reaches the 70’s smaller trout come out of the bayous and canals and join the larger fish on the grass flats.  Throughout this period, we drift fish and pole the flats using top water walk-the-dog type lures.  Small menhaden, when we can find them, are deadly as live bait during this time.  Occasionally, when the water is dead calm, we have to get out of the boat and stalk the wary reds.  The trout and redfish are on the flats through the summer and fall.  We have caught reds on the flats as late as mid-January.

The king mackerel arrive in the gulf with the cigar minnows a little later in May and stay with us all summer.  Our favorite method for catching kings is to “fly line” live cigar minnows, threadfin herring, menhaden or hardtails above near-shore structure.  Basically, we hook the live bait on a simple wire leader, toss him out there to swim around close to the surface, and hang on.  Occasionally kings will target baits from well below the surface and strike with such velocity that they soar out of the water in what is lovingly called “skyrocketing”.  We upgrade the tackle to 20# spinning outfits to handle the kings’ screaming runs.

In May we stand a fair chance of catching a late-season cobia migrating westward with a large ray or sea turtle.  Since our boats don’t have towers we do not target cobia during the main run in April.  They’re too hard to see from water level.  But in May they become much easier targets since they usually accompany easy-to-spot rays and turtles.  Twenty-pound class spinning tackle with live bait works well.

Our bottom fishing starts in February when the grouper move to near-shore structure and runs through November.  Our main bottom fishing targets are red snapper and grouper.  We fish for grouper until snapper season opens in mid-April and then go after both snapper and grouper until snapper season closes October 31.  These are powerful fish that congregate close to bottom structure, and it takes strong tackle and a lot of muscle to get them to the surface.  We use heavy action stand-up rods, 4/0 reels with 50# mono, and 60# leaders. 

A trip usually starts with a boat ride up one of our bayous where we catch live menhaden with a castnet.  We then make the run to the selected calm water spot, drop anchor and start fishing.  When “the bite” comes on, it’s fast, furious and unforgetable.   

When the gulf is calm we have good success fishing near-shore spots a few miles from the pass.  When the gulf is rough we move into the bay to some very productive spots close to the pass.  Fishing for snapper and grouper in calm water is a much more comfortable alternative to spending a day out in the gulf bouncing around with a bunch of seasick anglers.  Our approach is very successful as you can see by checking out the photo gallery.  Plus, while fishing the inshore structure you have a good chance of catching a cobia, king mackerel, shark, or huge redfish.

Night Fishing Trips (1-2 Anglers)

Night trips start before sunset and include a Key West style sunset celebration.  If we plan to fish around Pensacola Pass or over inshore structure, we start early enough to catch bait and anchor in position to enjoy the sunset.  Once the sun sets, we put the baits out and wait for the action to begin.  Depending on the time of year we catch redfish, grouper, snapper, tarpon and sharks.  We use the Mako for all of our night bottom-fishing trips. 

In the fall our extreme anglers may want to try their hand at cane pole fishing for giant redfish.  We use huge cane poles (20+ feet) and about 24 feet of 100-pound class rigging for this fishing.  There is no reel and therefore no drag to assist the angler.  It is a mammoth tug-of-war between the angler and a twenty-something pound significantly agitated redfish.  Generally the tackle holds (we’ve only broken two poles so far) and the fish come to the surface in about 30 seconds.  We quickly net them, take photos and release them angry but unharmed. Sometimes it takes two anglers to hang on to the pole and fight the fish.  This is fishing you have to witness to believe, and don’t forget to eat your Wheaties!

Also at night we use flies and light tackle to fish for speckled trout and redfish around the numerous dock lights in Santa Rosa Sound.  Stealth is critical to success in the calm waters at night, and the Hewes is the ideal fishing platform.  We pole silently within range and hold the boat in position as our anglers take over. 

It is always an adventure to be on the water at night.  Picture yourself gliding silently across glassy water under a bright moon preparing to cast to fish striking the surface beneath an approaching dock light.  It’s exciting stuff!

Night trips are charged hourly with a four hour minimum.

It’s always a great day -or night- on the water with Gulf Breeze Guide Service!

Gulf Breeze Guide Service
P.O. Box 251
Gulf Breeze, Florida 32562-0251 (USA)
Tel: 850.934.3292 or 850.261.9035 (cell)
Email: gbgsfishing@aol.com

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