In this week's Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya covers a productive spring transition despite rough offshore weather, with pompano showing up in the surf, big trout feeding in the bay, and Spanish mackerel providing a solid option closer to shore. This episode features Blake Hunter with Reel30A and Capt. Blake Nelson of Last Cast Charters. The big theme this week is that spring fishing is taking shape across Northwest Florida, but anglers still need to stay flexible and fish around changing conditions.

Joe starts in the surf with Blake Hunter of Reel30A, who says the pompano migration is underway and the next few weeks should offer some of the best beach fishing of the season. He explains how fish are moving in waves along the beach, why live sand fleas are so important right now, and how staying mobile can help anglers find the best concentrations of fish.

Next, Joe checks in with Capt. Blake Nelson of Last Cast Charters for an inshore report from the Choctawhatchee Bay area. Blake says the trout bite has been very good, with quality fish over 20 inches and some larger trout showing up. He also reports redfish action and the arrival of Spanish mackerel around bridges, flats, and drop-offs. Blake shares that both live bait and artificials are working, with success often coming down to stealth, long casts, and making the right presentation.

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Deep South Cranes

In this week's Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya covers a strong early spring shift with the surf bite turning on, big trout showing up in Pensacola-area backwaters, and offshore anglers working around windy weather. This episode features Justin Reed on a full-blown pompano run from Pensacola to Navarre, Brandon Barton on topwater trout in transition areas, and Capt. Tyler Massey of Hot Spots Charters on Spanish mackerel and early scamp season opportunities. The big theme this week is that spring patterns are taking shape across the region, but success still depends on adjusting to conditions and staying flexible.

Joe starts in the surf with Justin Reed with Justin Reed Fishing, who says the pompano run is officially on, with schools of fish moving the beaches and consistent action for anglers fishing the sandbars. He breaks down how to pick productive water, space rods, choose colors, and adjust baits and rigs to stay on fish during the migration.

Next, Joe checks in with Brandon Barton with Emerald Waters Kayak Charters for an inshore report from the Pensacola area. Brandon says big trout are setting up in transition zones around creeks and bayous, with bait getting pushed out and topwater lures producing some of the better fish of the week. He also explains why stealth, long casts, and covering similar types of water are key right now.

To wrap up, Joe heads offshore with Capt. Tyler Massey of Hot Spots Charters. Tyler says rough weather has limited offshore trips, but Spanish mackerel have arrived near Pensacola Beach and are providing fun action for anglers trolling or casting. He also shares that bottom fishing remains productive, with scamp season reopening and live bait becoming easier to find as water temperatures rise.

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Deep South Cranes

In this week's Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya covers a spring transition with updates from offshore, the surf, and Pensacola inshore waters. This episode features Capt. Harris Scruggs on Panama City triggerfish, grouper, vermilion snapper, and early Spanish mackerel, Blake Hunter on scattered pompano, bull reds, and black drum in the surf, and Brandon Barton on clear-water trout and redfish tactics. The big theme this week is that spring is close, but anglers still need to adjust to changing conditions.

Joe starts offshore with Capt. Harris Scruggs of Triple B Fishing Charters. Harris says short bottom trips are producing triggerfish, vermilion snapper, red grouper, and scamp, and he explains how fishing bigger baits off the bottom can help target larger triggerfish. He also shares a quick update on early Spanish mackerel showing closer to the beach.

Next, Joe checks in with Blake Hunter of Reel30A for the surf report. Blake says the main pompano run has not fully arrived, but there are enough fish around to keep anglers watching the full moon, beach structure, and water temperature. He also says bull reds and black drum are giving surf anglers another strong option right now.

To wrap, Joe heads to Pensacola with Brandon Barton of Emerald Waters Kayak Charters for an inshore report on trout and redfish. Brandon explains why stealth matters so much in the clear, shallow water and shares a few lure and presentation adjustments that can make a difference. Overall, the report shows Northwest Florida is right on the edge of a stronger spring bite.

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Deep South Cranes

In this week's Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya tracks a late March transition with a strong offshore update out of Destin and an inshore speckled trout report from the Pensacola area. This episode features Capt. Adam Peoples of One Shot Charters on wahoo, swordfish, and open-water tuna action, plus Capt. Evan Wheeler of Tall Pines Tight Lines on pre-spawn trout behavior during a stretch of changing weather. The big theme this week is that spring opportunities are building, but anglers still need to adjust to shifting conditions and stay flexible day to day.

Joe starts offshore with Capt. Adam Peeples of One Shot Charters in Destin. Adam breaks down a weekend that included a wahoo bite at the FADs, steady swordfish action, and open-water tuna schools pushing bait on the surface. He explains how he likes to slow troll a varied spread for wahoo, why he sticks with mono instead of wire on diving plugs, and what anglers should look for when rigging spinning setups for tuna on swimbaits.

Next, Joe heads inshore with Capt. Evan Wheeler of Tall Pines Tight Lines for a Pensacola-area trout report. Evan says March remains a tough but rewarding transition month, with fish shifting between winter and spring patterns depending on temperature, tide, and daily conditions. He explains how big trout are balancing warmth, forage, and spawning movement, and he shares a detailed look at confidence baits, search baits, and why lure choice should match depth, cover, and the specific type of trout fishing you are trying to do.

To wrap, Joe and Evan look ahead to the next couple of weeks and agree that the late March to early April window should keep producing chances at quality trout, especially as conditions settle and fish move closer to a true spring pattern.

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Deep South Cranes

In this week's Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya covers a classic March transition with updates from the surf, inshore, offshore, and the boating scene. This episode features Justin Reed on the Pensacola to Navarre surf bite, Jim Cox on The Wharf Boat and Yacht Show in Orange Beach, Capt. Blake Nelson on Destin trout and redfish, and Capt. Tyler Massey on Pensacola offshore action. The common thread is that things are improving, but most fisheries are still just on the edge of their full spring pattern.

Joe starts with Justin Reed of Justin Reed Fishing for a surf report focused on pompano. Justin says there were a few better days leading up to the full moon, but the bite has been inconsistent since, with redfish, whiting, and catfish filling in while anglers wait for the real run to kick off. He explains why late March into early April still looks like the better window and shares how he staggers baits across the beach to find where fish are traveling.

Next, Joe checks in with Jim Cox for a preview of The Wharf Boat and Yacht Show, set for March 20 through 22 at The Wharf in Orange Beach. Jim breaks down what makes the show special, from in-water boats and yachts to hundreds more on land, along with why boat show season can be a great time to compare models and find real buying incentives.

From there, Joe talks with Capt. Blake Nelson of Last Cast Charters in Destin about an inshore bite centered on trout and redfish. Blake explains how fish are using creek mouths, bayous, and nearby flats based on food and conditions, and he shares why popping corks with live shrimp and weedless soft plastics are good tools right now.

To wrap, Capt. Tyler Massey of Hot Spots Fishing Charters gives an offshore report centered on vermilion snapper and triggerfish. Tyler explains how to find better triggerfish on smaller structure, how he distinguishes vermilions and triggers on the machine, and why April should bring more Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, and other spring opportunities.

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In this week's Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya tees up an early spring transition with three quick-hit conversations—plus a reminder on the Emerald Coast Boat & Lifestyle Show in Panama City Beach (March 6–8 at Aaron Bessant Park by Pier Park) for anyone ready to stop guessing and start stepping on boats.

Joe starts inshore with Capt. Evan Wheeler of Tall Pines Tight Lines in the Pensacola area to break down "messy middle" fishing: persistent negative tides, low water, and fronts that don't always reset fish into a clean winter pattern. Evan explains what to hunt for on tough days (birds, bait, and depth changes near warming water), why slowing down and changing cadence can flip the switch on trout, and the simple gear approach he leans on in spring—20 lb braid with leader choices that match the lure and strike intensity.

Next, Joe checks in with Capt. Harris Scruggs of Triple B Fishing out of Panama City on spring-break nearshore trips targeting triggerfish and vermilion snapper, with better beeliners showing on wreck edges. Harris shares the key triggerfish tip: fish your way down, watch for subtle "slow-down" bites on the drop, and get tight fast—plus when lighter hooks and smaller baits help clients actually stick fish.

To wrap, Blake Hunter of Reel30A says pompano are on the cusp, with big fish showing before the schools, and stresses that right now success is about beach structure—especially finding a productive hole or depression and soaking baits in the right water. He points to late March into early April as a prime window for the best odds along the Emerald Coast.

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In this week's Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya leans on two timely conversations to make sense of a windy, weather-scrambled week: offshore wahoo intel from Hilton's Real-Time Navigator and a Pensacola-area inshore kayak pattern that's producing reds and trout during warm windows.

Joe starts with Butch Thierry and Tom Hilton to talk "good wahoo water" for boats running out of Pensacola, Destin, and Panama City. Tom explains dialing in a wahoo temp range in the upper 60s into the 70s to make clean edges pop, then stacking the odds with water color, current, structure, and bait. They key in on Destin FADs and the Oriskany area, why even small temp breaks can matter when they're tight and defined, and how current hitting contour can create the kind of feeding zone you want to fish.

To wrap, Joe checks in with Brandon Barton of Emerald Waters Kayak Charters on a fun inshore bite: redfish and trout eating topwater well beyond first light when conditions warm up. Brandon breaks down his go-to spook-style baits, when he upsizes for ripple, and how he works saltwater chatterbaits through submerged grass in dirtier river water to trigger winter reds. He also shares how drone scouting is changing his view of where trophy-class trout and mixed schools are staging in shallow ICW water during midday warming periods, plus a quick look ahead to March kayak offshore opportunities for blackfin tuna and early-season reef fishing.

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In this week's Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya delivers a winter "real report" across the Panhandle with three key conversations: surf fishing, boat-show season, and a tough-but-producible inshore bay bite.

On the surf side, Joe talks with Justin Reed of Justin Reed Fishing about February slowdowns and how to prep for spring—favorite rod lengths (9–10' vs 12'), why he likes 5000-size reels for torque, and must-have surf tackle like Sputnik sinkers, pompano rigs, and sand fleas.

They also preview boat season with Jim Cox in an Emerald Coast Boat & Lifestyle Show rundown, covering what to expect at the show, why seeing boats in person matters, and the coastal-lifestyle vendors and seminars that make it a full family event.

To wrap, Joe checks in with Justin Leake of Panama City Inshore on winter inshore fishing—focusing on protected bayous and deeper creeks for trout and redfish, using suspending jerkbaits to locate fish, and leaning on live shrimp when the bite gets picky as water temps start creeping toward spring.

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