Finding some excellent redfishing in the early morning hours at Redfish University. With the recent rains and dirty water in the bays, we’ve been concentrating in the far reaches of Santa Rosa Sound. The most productive hours are between 515am and 7am. Guided Robert Ruffino and Robert Jr. of Baton Rouge, LA. yesterday and my website designer, Randy Hamilton, and my dad for a short trip this morning. Started with Sebile Bongos over grass in 2-3ft of water and around small schools of mullet in mixed sizes. Robert Jr’s second cast was hammered by a 27.5″ 8# redfish that really worked him over. Further down, he stuck a -27″ redfish that weighed in at 7.25#. Had some quality trout coming to the boat as well. It wasn’t long been he did it again with a 26 7/8″ redfish at 7.25# again. Would have been a great tournament morning with +/-14.5#’s in 20 minutes. Maybe I’ll fish a little tournament here soon!! Anyway, sent the guys home with a few nice fish for fish tacos. This morning, my dad and, website designer, marketing genius and advertising guru, Randy Hamilton joined me for some redfish action in similar areas in the Sound. Again, redfish to 7#’s although the west wind and surface grass slowed things down a bit. In choppy water, a topwater that has a pitchy rattle and produces some bubble-splash is key. The Bongos do both so we were golden. Sent some redfish home with my dad. Last week, I worked with Penn Reels and Berkley down at the Baypoint Invitational Billfish Tournament in Panama City, FL. Met several nice folks and saw some nice offshore species hit the scales including a 404# Blue Marlin. Lots of new Berkley Gulp! baits, Sebile jigheads, superlines, monofilament and reels/rods from Penn coming out in September. Keep your eyes peeled. Thanks again, E Holstman Please click an image to...

Lots of morning inshore trips recently at Redfish University. A few weeks ago, I met a bunch of great folks from the GCFC while I was working with Penn Reels at the Bud Light King Tournament.  I also fished a few hours in the Bud Light inshore event with my old Redfish Cup partner, Sonny Granger and our friend, Chad, from Shimano. Grabbed a 6+ lb redfish and some 3# trout but never got a big bite. Of course, I stuck with artificials but strangely, the guys didn’t get any bites on the live croakers, pinfish, etc. Maybe I have them trained on artificials!! Anyway, fished with them until 10am and attended a prior engagement.  We’ve been concentrating mostly in Pensacola, Escambia and East Bays with some great early morning topwater action and then finding plenty of fish near structure in 6-15′ of water. It’s been so important to find large schools of mullet for the last few months. Both the redfish and trout have been hanging inside and outside these groups and will take topwaters early and then Gulp Jerkys and Johnson Spoons after about 730am. The Scenic Hwy flats have been pretty inconsistent lately but are always good for a few big trout and some average redfish. Our most productive areas have been on the south side of East Bay from Toms Bayou to the Garcon Point Bridge. We are looking for the mullet early and launch topwaters in between the docks to find some great trout and even some 22-26″ redfish. As the sun gets overhead, we can actually see lots of trout and redfish to target with Gulp! Shrimp, Jerkshads or 1/4oz Johnson Spoons. Some days are better than others but good water movement is the key to hungry fish. Plenty to see but they are tough on slow water in my recent experience. Slow it down in slow water. More to come. Thanks, E Holstman Please click an image to...

Had some trips last week, took a little trip to South Beach, then started at it again this week. We’ve been concentrating mostly in East Bay and Escambia Bay and have had very good results. Topwater action along Scenic Hwy has been great with both redfish and large trout. The east side of Escambia has been good as well with more trout than redfish. Finding some legal and oversized redfish now over in East Bay on sand flats and around shallow sandy docks. Gulp! Jerkshads are all you need and the fish are very easy to see. We are also finding some very large trout on the sand as well although they can be tricky to catch. It can be done!  Lots of groups and fish inside schools of large mullet. Many anglers are keeping a few redfish and trout for dinner. Working with Senior District Pure Fishing Rep. Kevin Benton tomorrow night at the Penn Reels tent at the Bud Light Tournament at Flounders. Stop by and say hello. Please click an image to...

Redfish University has become Speckled Trout University for the last few weeks. Guided Bob and Lauren Taylor this morning for some big speckled trout. For speckled trout, I’ve always preferred the bays not the Sound. In my opinion, the presence of large croakers, pinfish, small mullet and even spots, draw larger speckled trout and redfish to our bay system’s sand and mud flats. Started at first light and ran to a great topwater flat in East Bay. Found very dirty water from bank erosion and yesterday’s rains. Caught a few nice trout in the 2-3# range with Bongos, Stack Shadds, Gulp! Jerkshads and popping corks. The corks really work great in the dirty, turbulent water. Again, around the large schools of mullet is always best. Took the crew to some deeper oyster structure and really found some nice trout. Berkley Gulp! Jerkshads in camo with a 1/4oz. Marsh Works jighead works awesome. Very slowly on the bottom is the key. Many smaller speckled and white trout were being inhaled by huge trout at the boat. One was a 28.5″ beauty! Moved around alot and ended the day along the rocks of Scenic Hwy where I have found that some very large speckled trout lay in the uneven bottom troughs. Lots of fish over 4# today. The Taylors kept 5 medium fish for tonight’s dinner and all others released healthy and happy. E Holstman. Please click an image to...

Got a little backed up on reports so I’ll jam the last three trips together. All trips were performed in various area around Pensacola, East and Escambia Bays. Early morning topwater action has been epic with solid trout and some decent redfish. Sub-surface baits like Sebile Stick Shadds are great once the sun gets up and the trusty Gulp! Jerkshads in camo are always productive. You just have to find some larger mullet and small minnow baits and the fish are definitely there. Finding some 3-5# trout on deeper(8-15″) structure with slow Gulp! Jerkshads making them bite. Its so important to get out early especially in the last few days where the water has really slowed down at mid-morning. Lots of fish in the cooler and most released. More detailed reports on Tuesday and Wednesday. E Holstman Please click an image to...