It was another awesome week in Pensacola. I love my home, I love the area, and I LOVE the fishing. Especially as I'm learning more and more.
As has been the case almost every trip out, the kayak produced the huge bulk of the fish. Day 1 I tried out spots I accessed from Sanders Beach Park, around Wahoo Stadium. It's good structure and supports a lot of fish.
I hit a jetty using a popping cork on one side and a big chunk of pinfish on the other. Caught myself some nice spec trout and a couple sailcats, along with a bunch of small bluefish.
I learned that the popping cork works pretty well, but I need to remind myself that it doesn't always work and there are times to go back to the knocker rig. Sometimes they feed near the surface, other times deeper. This trip I stayed with the popping cork a little too much and probably left fish out there because of it.
That was the first day haul. The PM trip I went to the lagoon by Wahoos and had moderate luck with a stingray, a couple crabs and a sailcat. Again, should have ditched the popping cork. I'm sure there were mangroves in there I was missing.
Tried a new cooking technique with the sailcat fillets and it was delicious! The fish fry seasoning lived up to its name. Slap Ya Momma would have to be good or it would be laughed off the shelf.
Day 2 was a combination of Navy Point Boat Launch and Graffiti Bridge. The AM at Navy point was excellent with the popping cork. Then it died off and I stupidly didn't switch to a knocker rig. But a good haul, even found a small Jack Crevalle, which had me excited to find others (didn't, but they're there somewhere).
Graffiti Bridge was a bit more of a struggle because I was again stubborn with the popping cork instead of trying lower. Also the sailcat bite was slower. I did manage a few and a nice sand trout - never seen one, they're a lot like a spec trout but without the regulations.
Day 2 haul.
I did make it to the beach one day - I have to do this. Was surprised to catch a ladyfish on the pompano rig and would have had another on the jig but it popped off as I was reeling it in.
I started off at Simpson River, but got chased out with the weather. And I decided I won't be going back. Traffic is bad, the water is brackish and the area is very susceptible to wind. I really don't see the point in fishing that area, especially when there are much better places close by.
So I went back to Navy Point and guess what? I actually used the damn knocker rig when the popping cork wasn't producing. And wouldn't ya know it, I caught some decent fish in a short time out there, including a nice black drum.
Last day of fishing was a morning at Big Lagoon. Here nothing was working except the sabiki rig for baitfish and the chunks of pinfish off the back for some decent sized hardheads. And a crab. I couldn't find any ladyfish to see if they'd go after a jig. Found a couple small spec trout, but mostly a big waste of time. Except that I did get me some good bait fish for future sailcat fishing, and I was running low. And it's beautiful there, so I can't complain.
I'll confirm this in the fall, when I'm betting Big Lagoon will be great, but that place seems to be a spring-fall place that just doesn't do well in winter or summer. Sailcats seem to be hit and miss there and while there are good target species to be found there, the structure seems to be suited for warm-not-hot water. I'll go back in August and try going out toward the inlet where the water is cooler and moves more. That *might* hold something, but the pinfish are a real problem in the hot months. Unless you're targeting them.
Overall another very successful trip. It's hot out there - low 90s every day with high humidity. It wasn't much of a problem on the kayak, but it was a real problem when doing yardwork, kind of hazardous, really.
The new kayak is awesome, a fantastic investment. I like the paddle over the others - less stuff to break. Plus I anchor fish, so I don't really see the value in paying extra for something that probably won't enhance my experience.
I'll be back out late-mid August, the high point of summer, so we'll see what everything looks like then with the water temp at record high during the peak of summer. But this time I'd say summer fishing is very, very good, even if it's not as good as when the water is a bit cooler.
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