Mega Bite charters fishing report, Pensacola 1-3

[Fishing Report]

Report Jan. 1st - 2012

Well, another year has come and gone, and as good as the fishing was in 2011, I’m already eager to see what the New Year brings.
I was on the water nearly every day the last week of the year, and it was some of the best bull red fishing of the year and some great trout fishing as well. Only one day last week was not so good and that was the last day of 2011, because we were pretty much fogged in the whole day and could only fish the bridge for short time and had to end the trip a bit early. Other than that the week was outstanding. Each day I splashed the boat around 10am and worked the incoming tides at the bridge for trout and out in the bay for the big reds.

John bowed up with a big redfish.

John is all smiles after landing this big redfish.



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Anne had the big red of the day!

Kevin with a big Pensacola Bay Redfish.



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Alan is all smiles after landing this big redfish.

Triple Hook-ups are always fun!


The bite was very good for big trout at the bridge last week with a few at nearly 20 inches. Each day I timed the tides just right at the bridge and we hammered the trout. All fish were caught on ¼ -3/4 oz jigs with Berkley Gulp shrimp or Berkley Gulp jerk shads. If you’ve never tried Berkley Gulp for white trout or even speckled trout you need to give it a try. During the winter months it’s like having magic bait. Most of the trout were right around 15 –16 inches and we also had several that were 10 –13 inches, but we let the little ones go to be caught next year. During our trout expeditions we also managed to hook a few slot reds, which made for great drag screaming action and a few nice additions to the ice chest. Each day before I hit the bridge I checked a few spots where I’ve been catching big reds and a couple of times they were there and a few times they weren’t. One of my spots is in kind of shallow water 3 –6 ft, which is great for sight fishing. Each spot usually holds about 5 –8 big reds or 6 –12 slots.

AJ fishes for trout at the bridge.

Janet brings in a healthy trout at the bridge.



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Lela is ready for a fish fry. Johns shows of a nice trout.


As we get closer to the fishing area I go over a few techniques on how to approach spooky fish in shallow water, where to cast and how to retrieve the bait and what to do when he strikes. When we’re on the flats fishing for the reds during the winter I’ll use a couple of baits, one is a Berkley Gulp 3” shrimp or a Berkley Gulp 5” jerk-shad on a 1/4oz jig head. If we’re fishing for the big reds out in the bay or gulf, then we use a 1.5 - 2oz Spro buck tail jig with a laser tail attached or some type of medium grub curly tail for flash usually in chartreuse or red.

John Sr. shows of his biggest red of the day

John, John Sr. & Matt had a great time catching

reds in Pensacola Bay


Matt is all smiles after landing this big redfish.

There are those times when we are at my shallow water spots and the fish are not there or just not interested in our offerings, then it’s off to another spot like the bridge for trout or see if the birds are working bait pods pushed up by the big reds. If I don’t see the reds, I’ll go to where I’ve hooked up reds in the past and watch the bottom machine for any signs of life. Let me tell you, my Lowrance proved its weight in gold this winter. There were a few times the reds popped, but more times they didn’t and having a very good bottom machine put my clients on big reds. So, a big thanks to Lowrance for making such a great product.


This year was a great year in fishing, and I really enjoyed getting out this December with my clients for some end of the year adventures on the water.

Lela is all smiles after landing this nice red.

Brian is bowed up with a monster red.

Brian with his prize a MONSTER 42" Red

Jerry is all smiles after lading this trophy redfish.
Triple Hook-ups are common when the redfish bite is hot!

Tight Lines.

Capt. John