If you’ve ever driven over the 3 Mile Bridge from Pensacola to Gulf Breeze, no doubt you’ve seen plenty of your friends and neighbors lined up and casting along the fishing bridge. If you’ve ever thought of joining them, you’ve probably heard stories about the redfish, flounder, and tarpon they’ve caught. But what if you want to catch some bass?
GET READY FOR A CHASE
You might have the idea that bass fishing in Pensacola and the surrounding areas will be just like in other states, but bass aren’t as prevalent or as large as in places like North Carolina. A lot of competition, such as trout and ladyfish, keeps bass from proliferating.
Along with bass fishing boats, knowing the right spots can help you find the available bass.
THE RIGHT AREAS TO LAUNCH
Hopping on fast bass boats isn’t enough; you’ll have to be strategic about where you go. Here are some great spots to find bass in Pensacola:
- Escambia River
- The lakes around Blackwater Forest: Bear Lake, Hurricane Lake, Karick Lake
- Blackwater River
- Perdido
- Lake Stone
Keep in mind that you may need to branch out a bit from Pensacola proper to find enough freshwater for good bass fishing.
PENSACOLA BASS FISHING TIPS
Use warm water bass fishing techniques! The water in Pensacola never gets too cold, so if that’s what you’re used to, you will have to readjust. You’ll want to fish fast. That doesn’t mean going top speed in your bass fishing boats; it means taking advantage of how bass behave.
In warmer waters, bass will react quickly, so you’ll want to get them with their reaction strike. You can use spinner bait or buzz bait in shallow water or a football jig for deeper water.
Also, remember that shade is your friend, not just because you’ll stay cool from the scorching Florida sun but because the bass will be trying to stay cool, too. They’re also going to use the shade to keep themselves hidden from predators and prey alike, so search for areas with lots of overhanging trees or look under docks.
Go where the current is. That moving water will bring baitfish past the bass you want, and you can make your move while they’re trying to feed.
PENSACOLA IS READY FOR ANGLERS ON BASS FISHING BOATS!
Don’t forget that the area is known for its huge amount of red snapper, cobia, triggerfish, mahi-mahi, wahoo, and even bigger catches like tuna and swordfish. If you tire of catching bass (or are just having a tough time catching them), there are, as they say, plenty of fish in the sea.