Best Times & Seasons to Fish near Pensacola (Florida)
Pensacola can be amazing any time of the year for fishing but specific times and seasons really can be better. The trick is planning your trip to this fisherman’s dream during the optimum window.
The best time to fish Pensacola is during summer from late May to early November. The offseason for Pensacola fishing is normally January through March.
| Fish Species | Best Times to Fish Near Pensacola |
| Tarpon | Year-round availability; July seems to be the hottest month for fishing. |
| Redfish | Year-round availability; September through December is awesome. |
| Amberjack | April through October is the best fishing season. |
| Flounder | The best season for fishing is October through December. |
| Pompano | June through November is the best fishing season. |
| Spanish Mackerel | The best fishing is March through June. |
The city of Pensacola is located between two popular fishing destinations such as Orange Beach and Destin. The destination is known for its sandy beaches, warm seas, and subtropical climate. Here, anglers have an opportunity to fish the waters in the Gulf of Mexico.
The area makes it possible for anglers to enjoy offshore fishing, inshore fishing as well as deep-sea fishing. Anglers can catch many different species of fish during their trips.
To learn how to catch fish inshore in Destin, check out this helpful guide.
If you choose to fish Pensacola, think about visiting such fishing spots as Big Lagoon, Pensacola Bay, Santa Rosa Sound, and others. You’ll manage to explore all these fishing spots if you book a fishing trip to Pensacola. You can go fishing alone or with your family and friends.
No matter how you choose to fish in the area, you’ll have unforgettable fishing advantages that will provide you with a lot of fun and excitement.
Best Time to Fish Pensacola
When to visit Pensacola to enjoy fishing and get the best possible experience? Actually, it’s a question that’s asked by so many anglers, who are planning a fishing trip to Pensacola.
It’s possible to fish the area all year round. However, each Pensacola fishing season has its pros and cons.
Every fishing trip has to begin with meticulous planning. First of all, anglers need to decide what fish they are planning to target. It’s incredibly important for anglers to study bite time in advance. And of course, you should go fishing when fish is the most active.
It’s worth noting that the vast variety of fish species is active in summer. Anglers can catch marlin, mahi mahi, tarpon, trout, sheepshead, sailfish as well as red snapper during the summer months.
Let’s say that want to target such species of fish like cobia, mackerel, triggerfish as well as pompano. In this case, it would be better for you to visit the area in the spring.
However, you should visit Pensacola in the fall if you are interested in targeting amberjack as well as bull redfish. Winter is a good time to experience fly fishing in the area.
I recommend this Penn Pursuit Spinning Rod & Reel combo (available on Amazon) for inshore and nearshore fishing. It can handle everything from redfish to snapper and king mackerel. The Penn Battalion Series Spinning Rod and the Penn Battle Spinning Reel are fantastic to create your combo.
Pensacola Species Breakdown: Best Time
There are two main ways to fish in Pensacola. Anglers can either book a boat fishing trip or fish from shore. It’s possible to enjoy fishing in the area any time of the year.
However, you need to know the bite times of the fish species that you are going to target. Now, we will provide you with information on the most common Pensacola’s fish species in the area.
Amberjack
Amberjack fishing is very popular in Pensacola. Anglers can fish for amberjack in the area all year round. However, the high season starts in the late summer and lasts until the late fall. If you would like to catch amberjack, then go to the Oriskany memorial reef.
Catfish
Catfish is the most active during the summer months. Nevertheless, you can enjoy fishing for catfish in Pensacola all year round. Catfish can be found in the deep slow-moving waters. Johnson Beach is the ideal fishing spot to fish for catfish in the area.
Spanish mackerel
Spanish mackerel arrive in the Pensacola area when water temperature increases. Spanish mackerel fishing is the most productive between March and May.
Fishing is during these months. It would be great to fish for Spanish mackerel from Pensacola Bay Fishing Bridge. It’s recommended to fish for Spanish mackerel early in the morning.
Tarpon
Some fishermen choose to target tarpon in Pensacola. Fishermen, who catch tarpon, usually get the best results in July. It makes a lot of sense to fish for tarpon on Johnson Beach. According to the opinions of anglers, tarpon bites well in the early morning and late afternoon.
Trout
Trout is the most active in the late spring. Anglers have a good chance to catch a big fish during this period of time. Escambia Bay is the right place to target trout in the Pensacola area. Here, you can catch silver trout as well as gator trout. Early morning is the best time of day to catch trout.
Pompano
Pompano is one of the most common inshore species of fish that you can catch in the Pensacola area. Pompano fish is the most active in the spring.
The best times of the year to catch pompano are between April and May and between September and October. Johnson Beach is a good place to target pompano in the area.
Flounder
The Pensacola area attracts so many anglers, who are interested in targeting flounder. Flounder get active when the water temperature starts falling.
The season to catch flounder in Pompano starts in October and lasts till December. It’s a great idea to fish for flounder in Pensacola Pass. Anglers should fish for flounder either in the early morning or late afternoon.
Redfish
Try to find redfish in the bays and shallows around Pensacola. It would be better to target redfish in the fall. The reality is, redfish goes through Pensacola Pass during the fall months. Here, anglers have a chance to catch a big fish.
Sharks
Sharks can be caught in Pensacola as well. Shark fishing is a very interesting activity. Sharks are very strong and always give anglers a good fight. It’s possible to fish for sharks on a boat or from the beach.
Anglers, who target sharks, usually get the best results between May and July. The chances to catch sharks are high on Johnson Beach.
Sheepshead
When fishing in the Pensacola area, anglers often catch sheepshead. Sheepshead can be found near bridges, docks, and rocks. The season to catch sheepshead starts in December and lasts until April.
Escambia Bay offers great sheepshead fishing opportunities. Fishermen should aim to catch sheepshead during the midday hours when tides are high.
Recommended Fishing Charters near Pensacola
These Pensacola-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a tremendous service. The captains are knowledgeable, friendly, and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.
| Recommended Fishing Charters | Type of Fishing Offered |
| Sure Shot Fishing Charters | Inshore, Offshore & Billfish |
| Angler Management Fishing Charters | Inshore & Offshore |
| Jus Cuz Fishing Charters | Inshore & Offshore |
| Lost Bay Guide Service | Inshore & Offshore |
| Emerald “C” Fishing Charters | Inshore & Offshore |
Best Time of Day to Fish Pensacola
Early morning is the best time of the day to go fishing in Pensacola. The vast majority of anglers choose to fish in the area during the morning hours. You can also go fishing in the afternoon, late evening and at night.
However, each situation is different. Anglers should plan their fishing trips taking into account the time of the year, water temperature, weather conditions, the species of fish that they are planning to catch, and many other factors.
Pensacola Fishing & Tidal Impacts
It’s widely known that bite times depend a lot on tide times. The movement of water affects the activity of fish. Fishing in Pensacola is the most productive during incoming and outgoing tides. That’s why anglers should plan their Pensacola fishing trips with the local tide times in mind.
Storms & Pensacola Fishing
Fishermen should analyze weather forecasts carefully before booking a charter. And of course, fishing before and during storms should be avoided.
On the other hand, it would be great to go fishing after storms. Storms bring food to the shores. Food supplies attract fish. That’s why fishing is often very productive after storms.
Is Winter Fishing Bad or Good in Pensacola?
Winter is a great time of the year to target grouper as well as flounder, trout, and redfish. Winter is a good time of the year to enjoy grouper fishing.
It’s also important to note that the vast majority of anglers don’t prefer to fish during the winter months. However, the chances to catch a big fish are high in the winter.
Night Fishing in Pensacola
Some anglers give a preference to nighttime fishing. They usually choose to fish on piers and bridges at night. Among the species of fish that you can catch at night are bull redfish, tripletail, and others.
Oftentimes, tarpon also bites at night. The night gives anglers an opportunity to catch a trophy fish. It’s a good idea to fish at night in summer when the weather is hot during the daytime.
For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish Fort Myers, please check out this helpful article I wrote.
Shore/Surf Fishing: Best Times & Seasons
Shore/surf fishing is excellent in the Pensacola area. This type of fishing is a good choice for those anglers, who don’t like boats. If you would like to try surf fishing, give a preference to long rods.
Surf fishing rods are longer compared to the rods which are used for pier fishing. It’s also important to point out that shore/surf fishing gives anglers freedom. You can go fishing when and where you want.
There are piers in Pensacola where anglers can enjoy shore/surf fishing. These include Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier, Navarre Beach Fishing Pier, Fort Pickens Fishing Pier as well as Pensacola’s Catwalk.
Also, it’s possible to fish on sandy beaches in the Pensacola area. Among the other fishing spots in Pensacola are Johnson Beach, Pensacola Beach, Big Lagoon State Park, and Perdido Key State Recreation Area.
Top Fishing Spots in Pensacola
When planning Pensacola fishing adventures, anglers have to decide what fishing spots they will visit during their trips. There are many places where anglers can fish from shore.
Also, you can book a charter to explore deep-sea fishing spots in the area. Now, we’ll review some of the best fishing spots in Pensacola.
Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier
Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier is one of the best fishing spots in the region. The length of the pier is about 1,500 feet.
Anglers can fish on the pier any time of the year. Here, anglers can catch a vast variety of fishing species such as cobia, drum, flounder, kingfish, mahi mahi, sheepshead, and others. Fishing on the pier is not free. The cost is $7.5 per angler. Children, as well as seniors, can get a discount.
Pensacola Pass
It’s a great idea to visit Pensacola Pass during a fishing trip. Anglers can catch many different species of fish in this spot. Here, the chances to catch bull redfish of big size are always high. Among the other species of fish that you can catch here are: flounder, sheepshead, trout, jacks, etc.
Pensacola Pass is known as a fishing spot where anglers catch migratory fish. That’s the reason why fishing is seasonal here. Fall is the time of the year when fishing is the most productive in Pensacola Pass.
Escambia Bay
Escambia Bay is another good fishing spot in the Pensacola area. The Escambia River meets the bay in this place and this creates the ideal conditions for fishing. It makes sense to visit this fishing spot if the so-called backcountry fishing is more to your liking.
The bay impresses anglers with the abundance of fish. Here, it’s possible to catch flounder, gator trout, silver trout, redfish, sheepshead, and other fish species.
Here, anglers usually get better results when water is cold. Oftentimes, fishing is very productive in the eastern part of the bay.
Oriskany Memorial Reef
Anglers shouldn’t miss an opportunity to fish Oriskany Memorial Reef during their Pensacola fishing trips. Oriskany Memorial Reef is also known as Great Carrier Reef.
It’s the largest artificial reef in the world. The length of the reef is about 900 feet. Here, anglers can catch amberjack, grouper, and snapper. The fishing on the reef is excellent during the summer months.
Pensacola Bay Fishing Bridge
Let’s say that your budget doesn’t allow you to book a charter. Nevertheless, there are spots in the Pensacola area where anglers can enjoy fishing for free or at a low cost. Pensacola Bay Fishing Bridge is one such fishing spot. It’s the ideal fishing spot for anglers, who are on the budget.
Here, you can catch redfish, Spanish mackerel, sheepshead as well as trout. You can fish on the pier all year round. However, keep in mind that this spot can be busy in the summer.
Booking Charters in Pensacola
Would you like to book a fishing trip in Pensacola? Keep in mind that a lot of fishing charters are available in the Pensacola area. Highly experienced captains will do every single thing possible to help anglers get the best fishing experience.
Different fishing trips are available for anglers in the Pensacola area. The price depends on how many people you have on board.
There are group and private boat fishing trips. It all depends on the size of a boat. Some boats can take up to 6 passengers. There are boats that can take up to 10–25 anglers.
Also, it’s necessary to plan a fishing trip carefully. When planning a fishing trip, you have to make many important decisions. What is the best time of the year to go fishing?
What is the best time of day to go fishing? How long will fishing adventures take? And of course, fishermen need to get the answers to all these important questions.
Best season to go
Many anglers choose to go to Pensacola in the summer. Fishing is excellent during the summer months. Many species of fish are active during this period of time.
Summer is the ideal time to visit the area for anglers, who prefer to target red snapper. It’s worth noting that red snapper can be found near Pensacola’s reefs. If you are planning to fish for red snapper in the area, then think about having a trip between June and July.
On the other hand, summer is the busiest season of the year to go fishing in Pensacola. That’s why the prices on fishing charters in Pensacola are usually higher in summer.
If your budget is limited, then you can go fishing in the fall. The demand for fishing is lower in the fall, but anglers still can get excellent results.
Morning vs. afternoon
It’s possible to fish in Pensacola either in the morning or afternoon. Anglers should select the time of day to go fishing in Pensacola depending on the time of the year.
It would be better to go fishing in the early morning during the summer months. Morning is a great time to go fishing because water cools down and this positively affects the activity of fish. Fish is most active in the early morning.
Ideally, anglers should go fishing in the afternoon in the spring, fall, and winter. Water is cooler in the morning during these months. The water warms up in the afternoon. Warmer water results in an increase in fish activity.
1/2 day, full-day, multi-day charters
When booking a charter, anglers need to decide how much time they want to spend on fishing activities. There are three main types of fishing charters available for anglers in Pensacola. Fishermen can consider booking 1/2 day, full-day and multi-day charters.
A half-day fishing trip lasts 4 hours only. However, it’s the cheapest option. So, you should consider this type of fishing trip if you travel on a budget.
If you would like to spend more time fishing, then full-day charters are worth considering. However, full-day fishing trips are more expensive than 1/2 day ones.
Multi-day charters give anglers even more fishing time. Such a fishing trip lasts several days. So, anglers have a chance to get the most out of fishing. You need to know that multi-day charters are the most expensive option.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Destin, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Daytona Beach, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish Fort Walton Beach, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Gulf Breeze, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Port St. Joe, please check out this helpful article. For an understanding of the average cost of Pensacola fishing charters, check out this article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to catch snapper in Florida, check out this guide.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Perdido Key, please check out this helpful article I wrote.
