Navigation Menu

The Gulf Coast's Ultimate Angling Experience!

Best Rates on the Gulf Coast!! $600 (1-2 anglers) for 5 hours. $50 for each additional angler up to 4 total anglers. Includes Pensacola, Gulf Breeze, Navarre and Pensacola Beach. Call (850) 748-4368 or email ericholstman@hotmail.com. *(Adjusted for fuel prices on July 1, 2022)

Welcome to Redfish University in Pensacola, Florida

Redfish University is a unique opportunity for beginner, intermediate and advanced level anglers to improve their skills in the art of shallow water fishing for redfish, speckled trout, pompano and flounder. Redfish U. specializes in the challenging realm of sight fishing for redfish with the use of artificial baits. Redfish U. also targets speckled trout, flounder, pompano and bull redfish on traditional guided fishing trips. Our extraordinary curriculum insures that no detail is overlooked. From bait choices and line selection; to casting presentation and approaching your target, you will receive unsurpassed angling instruction. Challenge yourself, broaden your angling knowledge and invest in your fishing future at Redfish University.

Classroom Reports

More Reports »
Oct14

Redfish University in Destin-October 14, 2010

Guided Mr. Morris Monroe this morning over in Destin, FL. Morris is the proud owner of a brand new 22 Pathfinder/Yamaha 150 decked out with a Power-Pole, Minnkota TM, Garmin Color GPS/Map and a kickin’ sound system purchased from The Ships Chandler in Destin, FL. Morris wanted to learn about the inshore redfish and trout fishery in Choctawhatchee Bay, particularly with the use of artificial baits. Started at first light with some great speckled trout action on topwater baits. We concentrated on protected banks filled with mullet and bait over broken grass/sand bottom. Lots of trout but also some undesirables including big bluefish, Spanish mackerel, medium bonito and ladyfish. As soon as the sun was high enough to sight fish we took off to some very productive banks filled up medium to upper length redfish. Switched over to Johnson 1/4oz. Gold Spoons and looked for redfish amongst the hords of mullet. Since the tide was falling rapidly, we predictably found our redfish laying in relatively deeper troughs in 2-3 feet of water. Caught fish blindcasting to troughs and sight...

Oct12

Winter Speckled trout specific trip at Redfish University-October 12, 2010

Redfish University has been performing quite a few Pensacola Bay tours in preparation for the Fall/Winter inshore fishing. These trips consist of intense instruction, highly-productive locations and Redfish U proven techniques that will increase your redfish and speckled trout catch rates as the weather begins to change. Guided Mr. Sam Collins this morning on one of these great Redfish U. tours. Started out showing Sam where the trout are currently and we stuck many with topwater baits, suspending baits, Gulp! and Marsh Works Big Poppys. After catching some nice fish for the first hour, we took off with map and Sharpie in hand and covered Pensacola, Escambia, East and Blackwater Bay in great detail. Tides, water clarity, weather conditions, baits and techniques were the topic for the next four hours of the trip. I can’t wait to see Sam’s reports this Fall and Winter!! Redfish University standard guided trips and instructional tours are the absolute best ways to learn the secrets of inshore fishing along the Gulf Coast and become a better, smarter and more efficient angler. Book now to experience the wonder of Redfish...

Oct11

Redfish University with Pure Fishing/Wal-mart friends-October 8, 2010

This April, I attended a series of meetings with the Pure Fishing/Wal-Mart executives at Wal-Mart Headquarters in Bentonville. Our focus was to better serve  Gulf Coast anglers with Pure Fishing(Berkley, Penn, All-Star, Spiderwire, Stren, etc.) products in our region’s Wal-Mart fishing departments. Today I guided Mr. Jeff Cope and Mr. Vince Minnick for some inshore redfish and speckled trout action. On the water at first-light and ran way east. Found trout and redfish with mullet and bait along shallow banks. Further down the bank, we noticed some large wakes coming our way. Last week it was large redfish and jacks. Today it was only huge jacks cruising the shallow water looking for schools of mullet. Got into position and landed some topwater baits in their path. It was a great opportunity for Jeff and Vince to test the new All-Star ASR Redfish rods, the new Sargus and especially the Spiderwire Ultracast in 10# that I have been raving about. Both fellas drew tremendous strikes and Jeff was first to hook one of the beast. After a 30 minute brawl, Jeff’s jack...

Oct07

Day 2 Redfish and Speckled trout at Redfish University-October 7, 2010

For Day 2, I guided Mr. Keith Jones in Pensacola Bay and over in Santa Rosa Sound. Started at first-light and tagged many fish on topwater baits. Redfish and trout were together off the bank during the low-tide but just outside the schools of bait and mullet. Found large schools of bigger redfish in the shallows enticing them with topwaters and sub-surface baits although it took a little while to get into a groove. After catching most the fish along that bank, we trailer the boat to the Sound. Low water had the fish pulled way off the banks so we pitched Johnson Gold Spoons outside huge schools of mullet to produce a few good redfish. After a great morning of shallow water fishing, we set course for McGuire’s for some late morning brews and a hefty lunch, the Thursday Pot Roast Special. Impressive indeed! All fish released. Last trip of the week tomorrow with the Pure Fishing/Walmart execs from Bentonville. Looks like I’ll be heading up to Bentonville, AR. again soon. Please click an image to enlarge and view...

Oct07

Lots of fish at Redfish University-October, 6, 2010

Guided Mr. Keith Jones today for Day 1 of a two day trip. Late arrival, late start, so we launch at 200pm and set off to “just catch fish.” Made the run to Pensacola Pass and then down the beach to the east about 4 miles. Found an assortment of fish including Spanish mackerel, big ladyfish, big bluefish, sharks, pompano and even a few redfish. The water was very clear and very smooth so we looked for bait and fish in the shallow waters along the beach. Pretty fun afternoon of just catching an assortment of fish. All fish released and looking forward to the redfish and speckled trout early tomorrow morning. Please click an image to enlarge and view...

Oct04

Even in the harshest of conditions at Redfish University-October 4, 2010

Guided Mr. Randall Hamilton this morning. I believe this morning was the coldest and most windy this Fall. Hit the water at 630am in 50 degree temperatures and a stiff, 20-30 mph north wind. Ran way up river to look for signs of striped bass. We found plenty of bait upriver but nothing impressive enough to stop for.  Travelled back down to the open bay and started our quest for redfish and speckled trout. Found plenty of small to medium fish against the marsh as the tide was rising and almost peak. Many smaller fish have already made their way to their Fall/Winter homes, seen in the photos, and the larger fish can’t be far behind. Randy did well with the Gulp! 5″ Jerkshads in camo and I fanned the area, mostly against the marsh, with the Marsh Works Big Poppy and a 3″ Gulp! Shrimp to also produce my share of redfish and trout. Mostly an instructional, location and techniques trip this morning. All medium, small and tiny fish released. Book now to experience the thrill of Redfish U!!...

    These are the incredible companies that have made me so successful in professional tournament fishing and provide my clients at Redfish University with the world's best and latest in saltwater fishing gear. Please visit Eric Holstman's Pro Staff pages on all sponsor websites.

    To visit one of our sponsor's websites, just click on a logo below...

    skeeter-logo legendary-marine
    ABU GARCIA_BLACK_RED_LOGO_png-150x150 berkley-logo   patagonia-logo