Biting right now — August
The heat is on. Fish are active in the mornings and evenings. We work the shallow waters.
Spanish Mackerel
We troll and cast for Spanish mackerel in the nearshore waters.
Redfish
We find redfish on the flats and in the shallow bays.
Speckled Trout
We cast topwaters and soft plastics to speckled trout in the grass and along the tide lines.
Flounder
We drift live bait and jigs along the bottom in the passes and nearshore wrecks for flounder.
Every species, every month
We fish Pensacola year-round. Some months are better than others. Here's what we expect.
← Swipe the table to see every month →
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | AugNOW | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snapper | off | off | good | peak | peak | peak | good | good | peak | peak | slow | off |
| Spanish Mackerel | off | off | slow | good | peak | peak | peak | peak | good | good | slow | off |
| Redfish | good | good | peak | peak | peak | peak | peak | peak | peak | peak | good | good |
| Cobia | off | off | good | peak | peak | peak | good | good | peak | peak | slow | off |
| Speckled Trout | good | good | peak | peak | peak | peak | peak | peak | good | good | slow | slow |
| Flounder | slow | slow | good | peak | peak | peak | peak | peak | good | good | slow | slow |
Fishing regulations, including seasons, size limits, and bag limits, can change. Always check with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission before keeping any fish.
Month by month
What the water's doing, what's turned on, and which trip fits.
January
62-68°FWe find redfish and trout on the flats and in the bay. They hold tight to structure when the water cools. We drift live bait and cast artificials.
February
62-68°FRedfish and trout remain good targets in the bay and along the coast. We fish the same spots as January. The bite is consistent.
March
65-72°FThe fish move back onto the flats and nearshore structure. Cobia start to show up. We target redfish and trout with topwater plugs and live bait.
April
62-68°FThe water warms. Fish move inshore to feed. We target them on the flats and around structure.
May
68-75°FWater temperatures are ideal. Fishing is excellent inshore and nearshore. We see big numbers of most species.
June
75-82°FSummer fishing is in full swing. We find fish in the usual spots. Early mornings and late evenings are best.
July
78-84°FThe water is warm. We find fish on the flats and in the bays. We target redfish and trout.
August
79-85°FThe heat is on. Fish are active in the mornings and evenings. We work the shallow waters.
September
76-82°FThe water begins to cool. We see good numbers of redfish and cobia. We fish the nearshore structure.
October
70-75°FThe water cools. Fish move into the shallows and bays. We target big redfish and cobia on the flats and around structure.
November
65-70°FFishing slows. Redfish still bite in the bays and along the coast. We look for them in shallower water.
December
Closed · 58-65°FThe water is cold. Most species are off. There is no fishing worth selling.
Where we fish, and when it's best
Navarre
Best May - Sep — We fish the flats and nearshore waters for redfish and trout. The warmer months bring consistent action.
Gulf Breeze
Best Jun - Aug — We target Spanish mackerel and bonita in the nearshore waters. These fish are aggressive feeders during the summer.
Fort Walton Beach
Best May - Oct — We find snapper and triggerfish on the nearshore reefs. The bite is strong through the summer and into fall.
Destin
Best Apr - Oct — We run offshore for king mackerel and cobia. The spring and fall migrations offer excellent opportunities.
Common questions
What is the best month to fish in Pensacola?
Is it worth fishing in Pensacola during the off-season?
When do snapper show up in Pensacola?
What is a realistic day of fishing in the middle of the season?
When can I catch Spanish Mackerel?
Ready to Get on the Water?
Dates fill up fast in season. Reach out to Cant Quit Fishin to lock in your charter.
