Ponce de Leon gave the name Pensacola Beach to the shoreline of Santa Rosa Island when he landed in 1521. In the morning and afternoon, iridescent blues and electric greens shimmer on the surface and render such a perfect reflection of the sky and clouds, transforming the water into a chamber of mirrors. the ocean glows a coppery-red at night, which makes it an angler’s dream spot.
This beach is a fantastic fishery, populated by various fish species. You’ll have a great chance of catching red drum, pompano, whiting, Spanish mackerel, and speckled trout. Pensacola Beach is famous for speckled trout because they are so fun to catch on light tackle with a spinning or fly rod.
You could also catch sharks (especially if you fish at night), bluefish, black drum (called tom trevally in the area), ladyfish (called manjack in the area), blue runners, stingrays, catfish (also at night), and other fish. Sometimes dolphins play in the waves as you fish.
Here are five kinds of fishes you can catch in Pensacola from the beach:
1. Pompano
Considered the signature fish of Pensacola Beach, this species prefers to swim in schools, but they can be found alone or in pairs. Pompano is excellent table fare and is considered a delicacy. This saltwater fish is fast, jumps well, and can be caught on light tackle in the spring and fall by fishing the beach, surf, piers, jetties, jetty wrecks, and artificial reefs.
2. Red Drum
This saltwater fish is a gamefish, fun to catch on light tackle. Preferred temperatures are around 70 °F or higher, so it is best to fish in summer. This fish ranges from 4 to 40 pounds, but the average is about 10 pounds.
Red drums don’t fight very well on light tackle, but you have a great chance at hooking one of these ocean swimmers. Red drums are often found around artificial reefs, oyster bars, jetties, bridges, land-based points, channel edges, and wrecks.
3. Spanish mackerel
The Spanish mackerel is a saltwater fish that swims in schools. It is known for its speed and jumping ability. Anglers rarely catch them with a rod since it’s better to use nets to catch them. However, many of the other fish in the mackerel family are fun to catch on light tackle.
One such fish is the kingfish. This fish is easy to catch during the summer months in the Pensacola Beach area, and it is considered good table fare. The king drum is another member of the mackerel family you can catch in Pensacola Beach. Kingfish weigh up to 10 pounds, are very fast, and great fun to catch.
4. Speckled trout
The speckled trout is a fish that lives in saltwater that looks similar to the red drum. However, they are very different. The speckled trout is smaller than the red drum, with an average weight of 2 to 8 pounds. You can catch them in the surf zones, jetties, artificial reefs and wrecks, piers, and land-based points.
5. Bluefish
Common to Pensacola Beach, the bluefish is a saltwater fish that you can catch from the surf zones. This fish is easy to catch during the summer months in the Pensacola Beach area, and it is considered good table fare. The king drum is another member of the mackerel family you can catch in Pensacola Beach. Kingfish weigh up to 10 pounds, are very fast, and great fun to catch.
Conclusion
As you can see, Pensacola Beach is a great place to fish. It is a diverse fishery that is fun for the whole family and can be enjoyed by anglers of all ages. It is a great place to fish if you want to catch some fish for dinner or just for a fun day of fishing.
Are you interested in going on an inshore fishing charter? Showintail Inshore Fishing Charters is located in Navarre Beach, Florida, and serves the surrounding areas of Pensacola, Destin, and Gulf Breeze. Their inshore fishing trips are exciting for the whole family. Get in touch with us today for your next adventure!
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