Northwest Florida Fishing Report

Joe Baya brings you the first podcast to bring you the local inshore, offshore, and onshore fishing report from Pensacola to Panama City, Florida whether it's good, bad, or ugly.

Triggerfish Tactics, Summer Pompano, and Deep-Water Gator Trout 08/06/2026

Blue Marlin, Bull Reds, Pompano, and Post-Storm Fishing 07/31/2026

Blue Marlin, Bull Reds, Pompano, and Post-Storm Fishing In this week’s Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya covers improving offshore water after a tropical system, post-storm bottom fishing around Panama City, late-summer inshore action in Choctawhatchee Bay, and dirty surf conditions from Pensacola to Navarre. This episode features Tom Hilton of , Capt. Myles Colley aboard , Capt. Harris Scruggs with , Capt. Blake Nelson with , and . Tom Hilton starts with the offshore conditions report, where the tropical system helped break up the freshwater and dirty river water that had spread across much of the northern Gulf. He explains how to combine chlorophyll imagery, sea-surface temperatures, altimetry, current, structure, and bait to locate productive water. Tom also covers how to use one-day, three-day, and seven-day satellite images, why organized color changes can hold bait and predators, and how offshore structures can continue producing even when they sit inside less-favorable altimetry. Capt. Myles Colley breaks down the current offshore billfish pattern after a tournament performance that included five blue marlin, six sailfish, and a white marlin. He explains why current speed and direction are his most important offshore factors, why he prefers counterclockwise or incoming current, and when he will leave an unproductive area for a completely different body of water. Miles also discusses trolling teasers, pitching ballyhoo and larger natural baits, using live bait and sonar for blue marlin, and applying enough drag to keep big fish from settling into a long fight. He closes with the story of an estimated grander blue marlin hooked near the Nipple and Elbow that measured approximately 154 inches and was released after an eight-hour fight. Capt. Harris Scruggs covers the Panama City offshore report, where the storm created dirty, silty water and a major increase in sail cats and hardhead catfish. Red grouper remain available on deeper natural bottom, while triggerfish numbers have been inconsistent ahead of the season reopening. Harris explains why he deploys a flat line and knocker rig at every stop, how casting a one- to three-ounce knocker rig up-current allows it to cover the water column, and why dead bait has recently outperformed live bait for snapper and grouper. He also discusses scaling down to 30- or 40-pound fluorocarbon on pressured fish and using multi-hook rigs to fire up natural bottom before sending down larger baits. Capt. Blake Nelson reports that Choctawhatchee Bay fishing has remained productive, but rapidly developing thunderstorms have made weather awareness the biggest concern. Large schools of jack crevalle and bull redfish are feeding on pogies and greenies around Rocky Bayou, Boggy Bayou, Joe’s Bayou, Marler Bayou, and the East Pass. Blake explains how to target them with 20- to 30-pound braid, heavier leaders, topwater plugs, and large swimbaits. Trout, slot redfish, and mangrove snapper are holding around grass, sandy pockets, docks, and deeper cuts, while summer dock-light fishing has been especially productive with live bait and quarter-ounce glow DOA shrimp. Justin Reed wraps up with the surf report, where anglers must locate cleaner water to escape heavy catfish activity and find pompano, ladyfish, whiting, and other desirable species. He recommends scouting multiple beach accesses, walking shallow points when necessary, and casting beyond the dirty water. Cut ladyfish on a fish-finder rig has been producing redfish and bluefish close to the beach, while pompano have been keyed in on sand fleas and orange floats, beads, hooks, or Fishbites. Justin also explains why pyramid sinkers hold better than egg sinkers in strong west-wind current and why frequent bait checks remain important during the summer. Sponsors: /episode/index/show/northwestfloridafishingreport/id/42281705

Tarpon Struggles, Dock-Light Tactics, and Deep-Water Snapper 07/16/2026

Chasing Pompano in the Heat & Swordfish on Fire Offshore 07/10/2026

Pensacola Tarpon, Destin Snapper, and Gulf Sargassum Strategy 07/02/2026

Pensacola Tarpon, Destin Snapper, and Gulf Sargassum Strategy In this week’s Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya covers a rainy summer pattern from Pensacola to Destin, with dirty water, tarpon, sargassum, offshore kayak action, pressured snapper, sharks, and night fishing all affecting the bite. This episode features Brandon Barton with , Tom Hilton with , and Captain Adam Schroeder with . Brandon Barton starts in Pensacola, where tarpon are showing up along the beach as they migrate west. He breaks down how he targets them from the kayak by slow trolling live bait, watching for rolling fish, staying around the second sandbar and color-change zone, and keeping a second live bait ready to pitch. Brandon also covers the kayak bite for kings, snapper, bonito, Spanish mackerel, mahi, and amberjack, plus strong inshore and night fishing for trout, redfish, and bull reds around dock lights, bridges, and bait schools. Tom Hilton joins the show to explain how heavy sargassum is shaping offshore fishing across the Gulf. He talks through how Hilton’s Real Time Navigator helps anglers find grass lines, fishable water, current edges, sea temperature breaks, bait, and structure. Tom also explains why sargassum can be both a problem and an opportunity, creating nursery habitat and feeding zones while making trolling difficult when it gets too thick. Captain Adam Schroeder closes with a Destin nearshore report for Ignite The Bite Charters. Adam has been finding a better bite east of Destin on natural bottom, with red snapper, red grouper, mangrove snapper, lane snapper, scamp, and triggerfish in the mix. He explains how dead bait, squid, live threadfins, pinfish, chum, light fluorocarbon, clean knots, and spot-lock trolling motors can help fire up pressured fish. Adam also notes that sharks and dolphins have made some public reef areas tougher, making natural bottom a better option when conditions allow. Sponsors: /episode/index/show/northwestfloridafishingreport/id/41943730

Dog Days Arrive Early: Inshore, Offshore, and Surf Fishing Adjustments 06/25/2026

Dog Days Arrive Early: Inshore, Offshore, and Surf Fishing Adjustments In this week’s Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya covers an early dog-days summer pattern from Pensacola to Panama City, with heat, humidity, sargassum, dirty surf, and pressured offshore fish shaping the bite. This episode features Capt. Blake Nelson with , Capt. Harris Scruggs with , and Justin Reed with . Capt. Blake Nelson breaks down the Choctawhatchee Bay inshore report, where hot weather has pushed redfish, black drum, mangrove snapper, trout, and Spanish mackerel into slightly deeper water. He explains why covering ground is more important than waiting on a perfect feeding window, how deeper docks and bridge areas are holding fish, and why a 3-inch Gulp Shrimp on a quarter-ounce jig head is a strong search bait around docks. Blake also talks through the greenie and pogie bait situation, fly-lining live bait over grass flats, and why wind can matter more than solunar tables in Choctawhatchee Bay. Capt. Harris Scruggs gives the Panama City offshore report, where bait has been easy to find but bottom fishing has been a grind because of rough weather, dolphin pressure, sharks, and fish moving around. He discusses red snapper, red grouper, scamp, mangrove snapper, king mackerel, and how anglers can improve their odds by carrying good live bait, scaling down tackle, using longer leaders when possible, and fishing less-pressured spots. Harris also covers the heavy sargassum offshore and explains how crews are still picking up wahoo by running smaller-profile jet heads and keeping trolling gear as clean as possible. Justin Reed closes with the Pensacola surf report, where rough weather and dirty water have changed the beach game. He explains how anglers can still find pompano, whiting, redfish, bluefish, ladyfish, and other surf species by using brighter colors, more scent, synthetic baits, sand fleas, and larger cut baits when catfish become a problem. Justin also breaks down how to scout after storms, what surf “structure” really means, why sandbars, troughs, holes, and rip currents matter, and why early mornings or night fishing can be the best way to beat the summer heat. Sponsors: /episode/index/show/northwestfloridafishingreport/id/41800240

Beach, Bay & Bluewater: Northwest Florida Early Summer Fishing 06/17/2026

Beach, Bay & Bluewater: Northwest Florida Early Summer Fishing In this week’s Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya takes a different approach with a compilation-style episode built from recent reports across the Emerald Coast. With weather making fresh reports tougher to gather, Joe revisits timely conversations covering the onshore, inshore, and offshore bite from Pensacola to Panama City. The episode covers summer pompano, bull reds in the surf, June grass, sargassum, stained bay water, trout and redfish tactics, topwater and wake bait fishing, early red snapper season strategy, snapper pressure concerns, scamp and mangrove snapper options, a 790-pound bluefin tuna, mahi around grass, swordfish action, and offshore grass problems. This episode features Justin Reed with , Blake Hunter with , Capt. Evan Wheeler with , Brandon Barton with , Capt. Harris Scruggs with , Capt. Adam Peeples with , and Capt. Tyler Massey with . Justin Reed and Blake Hunter break down the Northwest Florida surf report, where pompano are still being caught even as June grass, sargassum, rain, and shifting winds make beach fishing more challenging. Justin explains why anglers need to stay mobile, how north winds can help push grass off the beach, and why clean-water pockets may be the difference between catching fish and fighting grass all day. Blake adds a 30A perspective, explaining how dune lake outflows, stained water, sargassum, and an unusual early-summer pattern have affected the pompano bite. He also discusses why summertime pompano often feed better leading up to the full moon, why sand fleas remain important, and how Fishbites can still produce when anglers find clean, fishable water. Capt. Evan Wheeler and Brandon Barton cover the inshore bite, where heavy rain and dirty “root beer” water have made trout and redfish fishing more condition-dependent. Evan explains how rough, stained water and a lack of obvious signs of life force anglers to go back to the basics, including reading birds, bait, wading birds, pelicans, terns, and current lines. He breaks down how different bird behavior can point to pogies, glass minnows, smaller fry, or redfish feeding opportunities, and why lure size and presentation should change based on the bait being targeted. Evan also talks about prospecting with baits like a MirrOlure 17MR and Slick Junior when the visual cues are missing. Brandon Barton adds a kayak fishing perspective from the Pensacola area, where open grass flats, potholes, points, and structure are producing trout and redfish, with topwaters and wake baits both playing a role depending on wind, cloud cover, fish activity, and how committed the strikes are. Capt. Harris Scruggs gives the offshore bottom fishing report, with red snapper season shaping much of the conversation. Harris explains how he approaches the early part of snapper season by fishing known public wrecks before pressure builds, using more traditional tackle early and scaling down later as the fish become more pressured. He also gives a blunt assessment of the long red snapper season, explaining why he believes the amount of pressure could be hard on the fishery. Harris encourages anglers to think beyond simply catching a limit of red snapper, and Joe ties that into a broader discussion about targeting other species such as scamp, red grouper, and mangrove snapper while still expecting to encounter red snapper along the way. Capt. Adam Peeples and Tyler Massey close out the offshore and bluewater side of the report. Adam shares the story of a 113-inch, 790-pound bluefin tuna caught while live-baiting with a blackfin tuna, including the heavy tackle setup, the long fight, the fish dying in 2,200 feet of water, and the hard work required to retrieve it from the bottom. He also explains why crews need to be prepared with block and tackle, a real fish bag or blanket, and plenty of ice if they may encounter a fish of that size. Adam also reports good swordfish action, quality dolphin, blue water, current, and bait, while warning that scattered offshore grass has made trolling difficult. Tyler Massey adds practical mahi advice for fishing larger grass patches, explaining how to pitch baits around the edges, keep multiple rods going, and hold fish around the boat with enough bait in the water. Sponsors: /episode/index/show/northwestfloridafishingreport/id/41682930

Night Tarpon, Summer Pompano, Inshore Trout, Mahi, And Swordfish 06/11/2026

Night Tarpon, Summer Pompano, Inshore Trout, Mahi, And Swordfish In this week’s Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya covers a mixed early-summer pattern from Pensacola to Panama City, with heavy rain, stained bay water, sargassum, June grass, strong surf shark action, a rare nighttime tarpon catch, steady summer pompano, stained-water trout tactics, offshore mahi around grass, swordfish timing, and boat-running issues caused by floating grass. This episode features Blake Hunter with , Brandon Barton with , and Capt. Adam Peeples with . Blake Hunter breaks down the 30A surf report, where nighttime fishing has produced strong shark action and a standout tarpon catch from the beach after dark. He explains how blacktips, sandbar sharks, bull sharks, and bigger fish are feeding around the evening-to-night transition, why stingray has been a top shark bait, and how heavier tackle, shock leaders, and second-sandbar setups come into play. Blake also covers the current surf conditions, including dune lake outflows, sargassum, June grass, and a surprisingly good summer pompano bite, with sand fleas and Fishbites both producing fish when anglers can find clean, fishable water. Brandon Barton gives the Pensacola inshore kayak report, where heavy rain has left the bays dirty and stained, making trout and redfish fishing more condition-dependent. He explains why anglers should switch from natural presentations to louder, higher-contrast lures in stained water, including topwaters, wake baits, brighter soft plastics, and possibly popping corks. Brandon also talks about finding trout around mullet schools near docks, why a white bone Southern Salt Apex topwater matched the bait well, and how he rigs for long casts with 20-pound braid, 20-pound fluorocarbon leader, and longer leaders tied with an FG knot. Capt. Adam Peeples gives the Destin offshore report, where fishing has been productive when boats can work around rough weather and heavy sargassum. He explains how scattered grass has made trolling difficult, but mahi can still be caught by finding larger patches, birds, or floating structure and using cut bait, squid, Ballyhoo, live bait, or even small jigs to draw fish to the boat. Adam also covers the current swordfish pattern, with fish keying heavily on major feeding periods, especially around the full and new moon, and warns boaters to watch for grass clogging motors, raw-water intakes, strainers, and debris hidden inside the floating sargassum. Sponsors: /episode/index/show/northwestfloridafishingreport/id/41614170

Finding Fish When the Cues Disappear: Trout, Red Snapper, Mahi & Wahoo 06/04/2026

Surf Fishing Tactics, Swordfish Action, and Panama City Patterns 05/29/2026

Surf Fishing Tactics, Swordfish Action, and Panama City Patterns In this week’s Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya is joined by Butch Thierry for a wide-ranging Gulf Coast report covering surf fishing from Pensacola to Navarre, late-spring pompano and bull redfish, June grass problems along the beach, sand flea scouting, an epic swordfish trip out of Dauphin Island, slow tuna conditions, strong scamp grouper action, snapper season opportunities, and how Panama City anglers can adjust around changing wind and weather. This episode features Justion Reed with , Capt. King Marchand with , and Capt. Justin Leake with . Justin Reed gives the surf fishing report from the Pensacola and Navarre area, where pompano are still being caught on most trips and bull redfish have been consistent off the beach. He explains how June grass and sargassum are forcing anglers to stay mobile, why north winds can help clean up the surf, and how to follow pockets of clean water when grass is moving down the beach. Justin also breaks down beach gear, sand spikes, fishing carts, walking the beach with artificials, targeting Spanish mackerel and bluefish with heavy spoons, and finding sand fleas for pompano bait. Capt. King Marchand gives the offshore report after a standout swordfish trip aboard the Lady Ann, where his crew killed three swordfish, released three more, and added an escolar during a fast-paced bite. King explains why he believes the swordfish bite shifts from west to east as the season progresses, how he uses historical data, ledges, bait marks, electronics, and boat positioning to stay on the fish, and why holding over the right piece of bottom can outperform a blind drift. He also talks about slow yellowfin tuna fishing, the importance of fishing while already hooked up, strong scamp grouper action, and how sharks are starting to affect the bite. Capt. Justin Leake gives the Panama City and Panama City Beach report, where changing weather has anglers bouncing between offshore, nearshore, and inshore options. He explains how he reads hourly forecasts and wind direction, especially when deciding whether to run offshore for snapper or stay inside for trout, redfish, tarpon, or trolling opportunities. Justin also talks about using a versatile boat setup, adjusting routes around southeast winds, fishing live bait with heavier fluorocarbon when Spanish mackerel and bluefish are mixed in, and staying flexible enough to fish everything from a few inches of water to a couple hundred feet depending on conditions. Sponsors: /episode/index/show/northwestfloridafishingreport/id/41462425

790-Pound Bluefin, Kayak Flats Fishing, And Gulf Coast Billfish Tournament Season 05/22/2026

790-Pound Bluefin, Kayak Flats Fishing, And Gulf Coast Billfish Tournament Season In this week’s Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya is joined by Butch Thierry and Angelo DePaola for a wide-ranging Gulf Coast report covering a massive 790-pound bluefin tuna, improving swordfish and dolphin action offshore, heavy sargassum in the blue water, kayak-accessible inshore trout and redfish patterns, nearshore reef opportunities, and the kickoff of Gulf billfish tournament season. This episode features , , and . Capt. Adam Peeples gives the offshore report after landing a 113-inch, 790-pound bluefin tuna while live baiting with blackfin tuna on Penn 70s, 150-pound hollow core braid, 130-pound mono, 200-pound fluorocarbon leader, and a 12/0 Mustad Perfect Circle hook. He also reports strong dolphin action, an improving swordfish bite, 78-degree blue water, and scattered sargassum that is making trolling difficult. Adam explains how anglers can adjust by avoiding grass-catching plugs and divers, using single-hook rigs, fishing live baits differently, and staying disciplined about keeping lines clean. Brandon Barton gives the kayak fishing report from the Pensacola area, where trout and redfish are active on open grass flats, sand potholes, and shallow-to-mid-depth areas in the sound. He breaks down topwater, wake bait, jerk bait, weedless shrimp, and paddle tail tactics for trout and redfish, along with how he uses kayak mobility and electric propulsion to reach less-pressured water. Brandon also talks nearshore reefs, where amberjack, snapper, grouper, king mackerel, and even mahi are becoming realistic kayak targets as summer patterns build. Jim Cox recaps the Orange Beach Billfish Classic, the first leg of the Gulf Coast Triple Crown, with a record 62 boats and a $1.6 million tournament purse. He covers the long runs teams made in search of current, the strong blue marlin catch-and-release results, giant tuna weighed during the event, and how Gulf Coast tournament fishing continues to become more technical with sonar fishing, live baiting, fuel range, and advanced boat technology shaping the modern game. Sponsors: /episode/index/show/northwestfloridafishingreport/id/41396745

Red Snapper Season Opens as Northwest Florida Fishing Heats Up Inshore and Offshore 05/14/2026

Surf Fishing Tactics, Bluefin Tuna Stories, and Big Trout Lessons 05/07/2026

Surf Fishing Tactics, Bluefin Tuna Stories, and Big Trout Lessons In this week’s Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya is joined by co-host Angelo DePaola for a wide-open May fishing report that covers surf fishing, offshore tuna and bottom fishing, Gulf Coast real estate for anglers, and inshore big trout tactics. This episode features Justin Reed with , Capt. Tyler Massey with , Angelo DePaola with , and Capt. Evan Wheeler with . The big theme this week is that Northwest Florida anglers have a lot of good options right now, from pompano in the surf to giant bluefin tuna offshore and trophy trout inshore, but success depends on reading conditions, finding clean water, and matching the right tactics to the moment. Justin Reed breaks down the Pensacola surf fishing report, where pompano are still biting well despite June grass becoming a major factor. He explains that the recent north wind helped push the grass offshore, but returning south winds could bring it right back to the beach. Justin says the key is not necessarily finding the perfect pompano structure right now, but finding clean, fishable water. He also covers how often to check baits when grass is present, why pompano should remain available through May, how to deal with ladyfish and blue runners, and why olive-sized sand fleas are ideal when pompano are running on the smaller side. He also talks through his surf rig setup, including 20-pound mono pompano rigs, 20-pound braid main line, a 20- to 30-pound mono top shot, pyramid weights inside the bar, and why a clean braid-to-mono connection matters for repeated long casts. Capt. Tyler Massey with Hot Spots Charters gives the offshore report from Pensacola, led by the story of a 777-pound bluefin tuna caught near the FADs. Tyler explains how the crew was intentionally watching for bluefin, how they caught the fish on a live blackfin tuna, and why targeting fish that size requires serious tackle, heavy drag, strong rod holders, backing plates, and a plan for getting the fish into the boat. He also talks about seeing another bluefin during the fight, the importance of live bait around the FADs, and why these fish have become a realistic but still rare Gulf opportunity. Beyond the bluefin story, Tyler reports excellent vermilion snapper fishing, strong mangrove snapper action, and good opportunities for scamp and red grouper depending on depth, bottom type, and presentation. Angelo DePaola with Coastal Connection EXP Realty gives a Gulf Coast real estate update focused on how uncertainty, interest rates, inventory, and buyer confidence are shaping the market. He explains that the market is moving in pulses, with slower stretches followed by bursts of activity when buyers feel more comfortable. Angelo also talks about why sellers are often holding firm when properties are priced correctly, how current conditions feel more like a normal market than the unusually fast pace of recent years, and why waterfront and boating-focused properties along the Gulf Coast continue to hold long-term value. He also highlights Abaco in Orange Beach as a unique option for anglers and boaters who want a new waterfront development with boat slips, resort-style amenities, marina access, and a strong location near both inshore and offshore fishing. Capt. Evan Wheeler gives the inshore report from the Pensacola area, where the expected full moon big trout bite did not play out exactly as anticipated due to odd spring timing, a late cold front, and shifting conditions. Evan explains that big trout and redfish are still being caught, but the bite has been more about specific locations, historical knowledge, bait presentation, and precision than obvious surface activity. He breaks down how to target larger trout on purpose, including how to choose soft plastics, slick-style baits, jerk shads, topwaters, and suspending twitch baits based on depth, grass, current, water clarity, and fish behavior. Evan also gives Angelo a Chandeleur Islands tackle breakdown, recommending topwaters, mirror lures, slick-style plastics, weedless presentations, natural colors in clear water, darker or more opaque colors in dirty water, and a simple approach to covering the top, middle, and lower parts of the water column. Sponsors: /episode/index/show/northwestfloridafishingreport/id/41207490

May Pompano, Big Trout, And Offshore Weather Windows 04/30/2026

May Pompano, Big Trout, And Offshore Weather Windows In this week’s Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya covers a spring fishing pattern shaped by cold fronts, full moon timing, surf grass, inshore trout and redfish activity, and offshore weather windows. This episode features Blake Hunter with , Brandon Barton with , and Capt. Adam Peeples with . The big theme this week is that May could offer strong fishing across Northwest Florida, but anglers need to adjust to changing wind, water clarity, bait availability, and sea conditions. Blake Hunter of Reel30A breaks down the surf bite, where pompano are still moving through and May is shaping up to be better than expected. He explains that live sand fleas remain the top bait when anglers can find them, but Fishbites, fresh dead shrimp, dead sand fleas, ghost shrimp, and blue crab knuckles can all play a role. Blake also covers how to deal with June grass, rough surf, heavier sinkers, color changes, and why anglers should run a variety of float colors and bait setups until the pompano show a clear preference. Brandon Barton with Emerald Waters Kayak Charters reports strong inshore action around the sound, grass flats, docks, potholes, and drop-offs. He says trout and redfish are feeding well on topwaters, wake baits, twitch baits, jerk baits, and smaller artificial shrimp when conditions get clear and fish become spooky. Brandon also explains how to fish flats from a kayak, when to downsize leader, why wake baits are so effective for covering water, and how the full moon and incoming cold front could create a good window for big speckled trout. Capt. Adam Peeples with One Shot Charters gives the offshore report from Destin, where rough spring weather continues to limit opportunities, but the fishing is close to breaking open. He talks through how to decide whether to run offshore based on the boat, crew, sea direction, forecast, and safety. Adam says the swordfish bite was slower than expected despite good water, while bottom fishing produced strong results, including big mangrove snapper and good tilefish action. He also notes that bait has been excellent around East Pass, Spanish mackerel fishing is strong, and king mackerel should continue improving as May progresses. Sponsors: /episode/index/show/northwestfloridafishingreport/id/41077840

No Outriggers, No Problem: Slow Trolling Wahoo For Any Boat 04/20/2026

Boat Electronics, Creek Trout, Bay Redfish, Offshore Grouper, and the Destin Boat Show 04/16/2026

Boat Electronics, Creek Trout, Bay Redfish, Offshore Grouper, and the Destin Boat Show In this week’s Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya covers a wide-ranging spring pattern with changing weather, flexible fishing options, and a look at how modern boat electronics can help anglers stay more efficient on the water. This episode features Capt. Justin Leake with , Capt. Harris Scruggs with , Capt. Evan Wheeler with , and Jim Cox with the . The big theme this week is that spring fishing across Northwest Florida is opening up in a lot of different ways, but success still comes down to adjusting to wind, conditions, and where the fish want to be. Joe starts with Capt. Justin Leake with , who breaks down how he approaches the three main types of spring days. On the roughest front days, Justin says he likes to tuck deep into creeks and bayous for trout, redfish, and even the occasional bass. On the in-between days, he focuses on bay fishing around jetties, bridges, and passes for Spanish mackerel, sheepshead, mangrove snapper, and redfish. When the Gulf finally lays down, he says the nearshore reefs are loaded with action, including red grouper, snapper, bonitas, and even a few early kings. Justin also shares a detailed look at how networked electronics, side imaging, drift mode, and better boat positioning can help anglers fish more efficiently and cover water more effectively. Next, Joe checks in with Capt. Harris Scruggs with , who says the offshore bite out of Panama City has been strong on the calmer windows. Harris reports steady action on triggerfish, vermilion snapper, red grouper, scamp, Spanish mackerel, and bonita, with plenty of bait around and good opportunities both near the pass and on reefs in 60 to 100 feet of water. He also explains that anglers fishing natural bottom should not always expect fish to show clearly on the machine right away, and that some of the best areas still take confidence and repeated passes to figure out. Joe also talks with Jim Cox with the , which is set for May 1 through 3 at Sunset Isle Yacht Club on Okaloosa Island. Jim says the show is designed to reflect the wide variety of boating in the Destin area, from offshore center consoles and bay boats to tritoons, cruisers, and luxury boats. He explains that the show will include boats in the water and on land, along with marine accessories, fishing seminars, food, drinks, and coastal lifestyle vendors. Finally, Joe checks in with Capt. Evan Wheeler with in Pensacola, who says the trout bite has been strong in salty, clear water despite heavy wind swings. Evan explains how he approaches protected backwaters on rough days and grass flats on calmer days, with a focus on matching bait presentation to current, water depth, and wind direction. He says big trout are eating both live bait and artificials right now, especially larger soft plastics and topwaters, and he shares several tips on presentation, positioning, and how to stay calm and land a trophy trout once it bites. Sponsors: /episode/index/show/northwestfloridafishingreport/id/40894540