Port guide / Florida Panhandle / Florida

Pensacola fishing guide

Pensacola fishes off one deep pass that drains Pensacola Bay, Escambia Bay and Santa Rosa Sound, with Big Lagoon and Perdido Key to the west and Navarre to the east. Inshore it is reds, trout, flounder and sheepshead in the bays, bayous and brackish Escambia River marsh, while the beaches and two long Gulf piers at Pensacola Beach and Navarre get pompano, Spanish and king mackerel and spring cobia. Offshore boats run the reefs for snapper, grouper and amberjack, and blue-water trips head to The Nipple about 35 miles out.

Conditions now
What is biting
Seasons and rules
Where to fish
Ramps and piers
Bait and charters
Events
Questions

10 ft, conditions now

Conditions now

Live from NOAA and the National Weather Service. Times show in your own time zone.

Tides

Loading the next highs and lows from NOAA.

On the water now

Water: Checking
Wind: Checking

Marine forecast

Loading the National Weather Service forecast.

NOAA tides, Pensacola, FL (opens in a new tab) NWS marine forecast, Coastal waters from Okaloosa Walton County Line FL to Pensacola FL out 20 NM (opens in a new tab)

20 ft, what is biting

What is biting, month by month

When each fish is at its best around Pensacola. This month is marked.

What is biting by month around Pensacola. Peak, good and slow months for each species.
Species	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Redfish	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Good	Good
Speckled trout	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Good	Good
Flounder	Slow	Slow	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Slow
Sheepshead	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Good	Peak	Good
Spanish mackerel	Slow	Slow	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Good	Slow
King mackerel	Slow	Slow	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Good	Slow
Cobia	Slow	Slow	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Good	Slow	Slow
Red snapper	Slow	Slow	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Slow	Slow
Mahi mahi	Slow	Slow	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Good	Slow

Redfish
Peak: April, May, June, September, October
Reds work the bays, bayous and Escambia River marsh all year, and in fall locals fish them from shore around Fort Pickens and Pensacola Pass.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Speckled trout
Peak: April, May, June, September, October
Big Lagoon and the salty bayous off the Escambia River hold trout, and Panhandle trout harvest is closed in February.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Flounder
Peak: May, June, November
Fall flounder stack up along the Community Maritime Park promenade and around Fort Pickens Pier, but harvest is closed Oct. 15 to Nov. 30.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Sheepshead
Peak: March, April, May, September, November
Fish live shrimp or fiddler crabs tight to bridge and pier pilings, including Fort Pickens Pier and the Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Spanish mackerel
Peak: May, June, July, August
Summer schools run the beaches and are a staple on the Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier and Fort Pickens Pier.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
King mackerel
Peak: May, June, July, August
Kings come within reach of the end of the Gulf piers and nearshore boats in summer.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Cobia
Peak: April, May, June, July
The spring run moves close along the beaches from March into April, and some charters run dedicated cobia hunts.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Red snapper
Peak: May, June, July, August
Caught on offshore reefs during the open season, and locals book at least a 6-hour trip because the grounds are several miles out.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Mahi mahi
Peak: May, June, July, August
Pods show up near boats heading out Pensacola Pass, and blue-water trips to The Nipple find them along with tuna and wahoo.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)

30 ft, seasons and rules

Seasons and rules

Open and close dates we could confirm from official sources, plus where to check limits before you keep a fish.

Red snapper, private recreational, Gulf state and federal waters
Open May 22 to July 31 daily; Sept. 1 to Oct. 4 daily; Oct. 9 to 22 daily; then weekends only: Oct. 23 to 25, Oct. 30 to Nov. 1, Nov. 7 to 8, 14 to 15 and 21 to 22, Nov. 26 to 29 (Thanksgiving weekend), Dec. 5 to 6, 12 to 13 and 19 to 20, Dec. 25 to 27, and Jan. 1 to 4, 2027. Also applies to charter boats without a federal permit fishing state waters.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red snapper, federal for-hire (charter boats with a federal reef fish permit)
Opened 12:01 a.m. June 1, 2026 and closes 12:01 a.m. Oct. 26, 2026.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gag grouper, Gulf state waters
Open Sept. 1 to 30, 2026; harvest closes Oct. 1 for the rest of the year.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gag grouper, federal waters
Open 12:01 a.m. Sept. 1, 2026; closes 12:01 a.m. Oct. 1, 2026.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red, black and scamp grouper, Gulf state waters
Open year-round in state waters.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Greater amberjack, Gulf state waters
Open Sept. 1 through Oct. 13; closes 12:01 a.m. Oct. 14.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Greater amberjack, federal waters
Open Sept. 1, 2026 to 12:01 a.m. Oct. 14, 2026, then closed until the next season starts Sept. 1, 2027.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gray triggerfish, Gulf state and federal waters
Open March 1 to May 31 and Aug. 1 to Dec. 31.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Flounder, state and federal waters off Florida
Closed every year Oct. 15 through Nov. 30.
FWC, annual, applies to 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Spotted seatrout, Panhandle Region
Closed in February; open March 1 through Jan. 31.
FWC, annual, applies to 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)

Rules change. Check before you go.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)

Private-boat anglers who keep or target red snapper, gag, red or black grouper, greater amberjack, gray triggerfish, vermilion snapper and several other reef fish need the free State Reef Fish Survey designation on their license. Charter and headboat customers and anglers under 16 do not. See https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/state-reef-fish-survey/
Florida manages red drum and spotted seatrout by region. The Panhandle Region runs from the Alabama line east to near Alligator Point in Franklin County and has its own rules. See https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/red-drum/
Florida's Gulf state water seasons for red snapper, gag and amberjack are set by FWC and can differ from federal seasons, so check which waters you are in.
FWC set a new lane snapper size and bag limit for Gulf state waters effective April 1, 2026. See https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/snappers/

Size and bag limits Fishing licenses

Last checked 2026-10-26

40 ft, where to fish

Where to fish

Pass
Pensacola Pass
The deep pass between Fort Pickens and Perdido Key is where reds are fished from shore and mahi pods turn up just outside.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Pier
Fort Pickens Pier (Gulf Islands National Seashore)
Reds in fall, Spanish and king mackerel and flounder in summer, and sheepshead on the pilings; park entrance fees apply and it is open sunrise to sunset.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Pier
Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier
A 1,471-foot Gulf pier where king and Spanish mackerel, cobia, pompano, flounder and the odd tarpon or sailfish get caught.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Pier
Navarre Beach Fishing Pier
At 1,545 feet it is billed as the longest pier in Florida and the Gulf, with rentals and a bait and tackle shop on site.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Bridge
Three Mile Bridge fishing pier
The old bridge pier along the Pensacola Bay Bridge gives walk-on anglers a shot at reds, trout and Spanish mackerel.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Bay
Big Lagoon
Protected water east of the Perdido Key bridge that holds inshore reds and speckled trout.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Marsh
Escambia River bayous
The salty and brackish bayous at the river mouth give up trout, reds and flounder depending on tide and conditions.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Offshore
The Nipple
Rock formations about 35 miles out where currents and bait draw billfish, tuna, wahoo and mahi.
Source (opens in a new tab)

50 ft, launch and piers

Ramps and piers

Public launches and fishing piers. Fees and hours change, so check the link before you tow.

Public boat ramps and fishing piers around Pensacola
Name	Type	Fee	Where
Galvez Landing Boat Ramp (opens in a new tab)	Ramp	Check	5820 Cruzat Way, Pensacola, FL
Big Lagoon State Park boat ramp (opens in a new tab)	Ramp	Paid	12301 Gulf Beach Highway, Pensacola, FL 32507
Navarre Beach Public Boat Ramp (opens in a new tab)	Ramp	Check	1451 Navarre Beach Causeway, Navarre, FL 32566
Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier (opens in a new tab)	Pier	Paid	41 Fort Pickens Road, Pensacola Beach, FL 32561
Navarre Beach Fishing Pier (opens in a new tab)	Pier	Check	8579 Gulf Boulevard, Navarre, FL 32566

60 ft, bait, tackle and charters

Bait, tackle and charters

Local shops and guides. We are not paid to list anyone here.

Bait and tackle

Bait and tackle shops around Pensacola
Shop	Where	Phone
Half Hitch Tackle Navarre (opens in a new tab)	8711 Navarre Pkwy., Navarre, FL 32566	(850) 939-9885
Grays Tackle and Guide Service (opens in a new tab)	13019 Sorrento Rd #2, Pensacola, FL 32507	(850) 492-2666
Entertainer Bait & Tackle (opens in a new tab)	13506 Perdido Key Drive, Pensacola, FL 32507
Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier store (opens in a new tab)	41 Fort Pickens Road, Pensacola Beach, FL 32561	850-934-7200

Charters and guides

Fishing charters and guides around Pensacola
Charter	Fishing
Hot Spots Charters (opens in a new tab)	Inshore and offshore
Reel Way Fishing Charters (opens in a new tab)	Inshore and offshore
Can't Quit Fishin' Charters (opens in a new tab)	Inshore and offshore

70 ft, on the calendar

Tournaments and events

Annual events on this water. Dates move, so confirm with the organiser.

Pensacola International Billfish Tournament (opens in a new tab)
June
2026: June 10 to 14
Busch Light Fishing Rodeo (Pensacola Beach) (opens in a new tab)
June
2026: June 19 to 22
Perdido Key Fishing Rodeo (opens in a new tab)
late July
2026: July 24 to 26
Flora-Bama Fishing Rodeo (opens in a new tab)
early June
2027: June 4 to 6

80 ft, asked and answered

Fishing Pensacola, asked and answered

When is red snapper season in Pensacola in 2026?

For private boats in Gulf state and federal waters, FWC set May 22 to July 31 daily, Sept. 1 to Oct. 4 and Oct. 9 to 22 daily, then weekends only through Jan. 4, 2027. Charter boats with a federal permit fished June 1 to Oct. 26. Private boaters also need the free State Reef Fish Survey designation.

Where can I fish Pensacola without a boat?

Fort Pickens Pier, the 1,471-foot Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier, the Three Mile Bridge pier and the 1,545-foot Navarre Beach Fishing Pier all put you on fish. The beaches also get pompano, Spanish and king mackerel and spring cobia.

When do cobia show up off Pensacola?

The spring run moves close along the beaches from March into April, and April through July are the peak months. Some charters run dedicated cobia hunts, and the Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier gets them too.

Is flounder season open in the fall?

Fall is a good bite, but Florida closes flounder harvest every year from Oct. 15 through Nov. 30. Fish the Community Maritime Park promenade or Fort Pickens Pier before or after that window.

What is The Nipple?

It is a blue-water spot about 35 miles offshore where rock formations and current hold bait, and charters run there for billfish, tuna, wahoo and mahi.

90 ft, the kit