We had three instructional guides trip over the weekend here in Pensacola, Florida at Redfish University. What a beautiful start to 2013!! Each instructional Redfish University trip took place in completely different locations around the Pensacola Bay system but all trips had one thing in common… big numbers of quality speckled trout and redfish. As always, Redfish University’s instructional guide services are unsurpassed in knowledge, experience, professionalism and highly productive techniques and there continues to be a very high demand for Redfish University’s much sought after services throughout the Winter and into the Spring. During Saturday and Sunday’s double-booking, we had ideal conditions although both afternoon incoming tides were predictably a bit more productive. We’re still finding speckled trout in the 2-4# range on shallow 2-3′ flats near deeper dropoffs and ledges while the redfish in the 20-26″ range are as shallow as 9″ but more numerous in areas of 2-3′ of water. A combination of Berkley Gulp! baits, Johnson Gold Spoons and even small Sebile Bongas are responsible for all our catching success. In addition, very light(6-8#) Spiderwire Ultracast InvisiBraid and a 12-15# Stren Tinted fluoro leader in Gunsmoke will increase the bite-rate tremendously. We took it easy on both populations this weekend with two trips going catch and release and one trip with a few in the cooler for a Sunday fish fry. Each trip produced 40-65 speckled trout from 14-21″ with most being legal and 8-15 redfish in all sizes.
We will continue through the week with a few instructional Redfish University bookings over in Destin, Florida as well as here in Pensacola with more great trips and huge numbers of fish. Thanks again to everyone for fishing at Redfish Univeristy! You’re beautiful!! Thanks, E Holstman