By: Capt. Rick Barberi
This month the water is heating and the Pelagic’s start to show up. We also will be targeting scamp and deep water groupers along with vermillion snapper and trigger fish for the first part of the month.
Close to the beach out to 30 miles we will target king mackerels. My favorite way to target them is with light tackle bump trolling live baits. There are several ways to target them a couple of popular ways in our area is with diving plugs or dusters with a cigar minnow. Also close to the beach keep a rod ready with a jig or a live bait ready to throw to a curious cobia.
A little further off shore Wahoo, Mahi, Tuna, White Marlin, Sailfish, and Blue Marlin will make an appearance. I generally fish anywhere from 30 to 80 miles out of Pensacola pass depending on the water conditions. I like using ballyhoo and islander combinations and naked ballyhoos trolled between six and eight knots. Keep a keen eye sometimes spotting something floating can be the difference between a great day and coming in with clean ice.
Reef fish that we will target to harvest this month is scamp grouper, deep water groupers, vermillion snapper and grey triggerfish until May 10. A lot of good eating reef fish are out there to be caught.
Capt Rick Barberi
Marlin Hunter Fishing Charters
850 221-4496
pensacolacharterfishing.com