Guided the Parkers from Gautier, MS. this morning. The anglers requested some topwater action for bull redfish. Found small groups of fish in various locations and had a great time watching 15-20# redfish pound topwater Bongos. We found some legal redfish mixed in as well but never got one although a few were at 28″. We also used Gulp! 5″ Jerkshads to sight fish a few redfish on a shallow, clear flat. Ended the morning with some fantastic speckled trout fishing at 1030am. Fun trip and a very easy morning of fishing. I followed that trip with a Redfish University appreciation trip with my Hilton Pensacola Beach connection. The Hilton treats me well and provides many clients for Redfish University! Thanks, E Holstman Please click an image to...

Quite a variety of species this week at Redfish University. Earlier in the week, we performed some instructional and fishing catching trips in the bay system. Finding lots of redfish and speckled trout in shallow water resulting in some excellent topwater and sight fishing opportunities for our new and local Redfish University clients. Relatively calm winds and ideal tide conditions have made finding tailing redfish quite easy in the early morning hours. Bongos, Gulp! Jerkshads and Johnson 1/4oz. Gold Spoons are all a great choice. The coming front will make things a little interesting in the coming days but with the amount of fish, we shouldn’t have a problem producing big numbers of both redfish and trout. This afternoon, we tried a little bay grouper fishing. With the front approaching, good tides and a better bite in the afternoon from the full moon, I thought we may be able find some hungry grouper. Large live pinfish and 20z. white bucktails tipped with bonita strips produced a few nice grouper between 25-27″. Not hot and heavy like it was the other day but not bad for a few hours of fishing. Many more trips to come and sorry for the shortage of photos. I will charge my camera. Thanks, E...

Outstanding fishing at Redfish University!! The fish are biting well during this stable weather period. Guided a few GCFC members yesterday for an instructional/catching trip and my friends from Berkley/Penn/Pure Fishing this morning. Both mornings were excellent topwater bites with the Sebile Bongos being the go-to baits. Found redfish and trout shallow and over sand/broken bottom contour. The lack of mullet made me a bit uncomfortable but we found plenty of fish to keep action all morning long. Even found some more very nice stripers and caught one chain pickerel as well. Stayed with topwaters most of both mornings as they continued to pounce baits well after sunrise. I got in on the action this morning and watched a 26.5″ redfish clear the water for my Bongo. Great fishing all week!! More reports to come. Sorry for the poor photos, I only had my Iphone. Thanks, E Holstman Please click an image to...

When I see swinging traffic lights and a temperature change of 25 degrees, I know I’m in for a difficult today. What a huge difference a day makes but with yesterday’s awesome trip, I knew there would be some fish to catch. Can’t always fish in perfect conditions! Blowing 30mph and a cloudless sky, so I  guided Ike and Oscar this morning for an instructional and fishing catching trip at Redfish University. My main objective this morning was safety, slow presetations and trolling motor boat control. I made it a point to have the guys making long casts with the wind which would certainly present many more opportunities to hit some fish. Started at 630am and found the water to be dropping extremely quickly. Tossed Berkley Gulp! Jerkshads in camo with 1/4oz Marsh Works jigheads(could have used heavier) in search of redfish and trout. Found some trout immediately and it wasn’t long before a 4# fish was in the boat. Found a few more fishable areas where we hit the trout pretty well and grabbed some more fish between 2-3.5#. The redfish were extremely difficult and only managed a small fish mixed in with all the speckled trout. I’ve never seen the water move out quicker!! Used the jackplate a lot today. Found more trout in a few more areas but as the water dropped and the pressure rose, we found the bite really slowed to a crawl. Nevertheless, caught quite a few nice trout and I hope even more was learned about inshore fishing during absolutely horrific conditions. Kept 4 nice trout for dinner. I invited the duo for a scouting trip with me in the near future so that I can show them a few more areas we couldn’t reach and stick a few nice redfish. Indeed, boat control today was a major reason we produced the fish that we caught. Hopefully, next week’s weather will be stable and we’ll return to the normal high production at Redfish U. Thanks, E Holstman Please click an image to...

The fishing has been outstanding at Redfish University this week. Outgoing tides and calm conditions have allowed us to sight fish for both tailing and cruising redfish and speckled trout in very shallow water. The average trip consists of 7-15 Redfish, 10-25 trout and a few flounder mixed in.  At first light we’re launching topwater Sebile Bongos over sandflats and mixed bottom littered with mullet and bait. We’ve experienced some of the best topwater action of the year with solid 2-4# trout and redfish between 23-33″. Also finding flounder in the same areas resulting in some classic inshore grand slams. With the dropping water temp, topwaters are working until about 9am and then we’re switching to Johnson 1/40z. Gold Spoons and Berkley Gulp! Jerkshads rigged on 1/80z. Marsh Works jigheads. Plenty of fish but in very few areas. Mullet and bait are a must. Plenty of upcoming trips so I’ll post more soon. Thanks, E Holstman Please click an image to...