In this week’s Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya tracks a productive mid-April pattern with help from Blake Hunter of Reel30A and Capt. Blake Nelson of Last Cast Charters. The headline this week is that the beach bite is building fast, quality trout are feeding well in Choctawhatchee Bay, and even when offshore conditions are too rough to run, anglers still have strong options from the surf to protected inshore water.
Conditions Recap
The biggest factor this week is wind. Offshore seas have been rough, with strong southeast flow limiting bluewater opportunities, but that same general pattern has helped keep the surf bite active when conditions stay manageable near the beach. Water temperatures have backed off slightly in some areas after a brief cool snap, but the overall trend still looks favorable as bait begins moving, migratory pompano continue pushing west, and more spring species settle into their seasonal patterns.
Across Northwest Florida, anglers are seeing the kind of signs they want this time of year. Pogies, mullet, and other forage are moving down the beach, Spanish mackerel are showing up inshore, and trout are feeding aggressively in shallow transition zones. The weather is still changing enough that daily adjustments matter, but the general setup is getting better by the week.
Surf Report: Pompano Migration Building Along the Beaches
Joe starts in the surf with Blake Hunter of Reel30A, who says the pompano migration is in motion and the next several weeks could be excellent for beach anglers. He explains that east to southeast wind can actually help the bite as long as surf conditions remain fishable, and he says anglers are already seeing pompano, redfish, black drum, Spanish mackerel, and bluefish in the mix. The key, he says, is understanding that migrating pompano move in waves. One stretch of beach may produce well one day, then slow down while another zone to the east or west lights up as fresh fish push through.
Blake also points to tide as an important part of the pattern. Around neap tide, fish that are already in an area may hold there instead of continuing to move, which can reward anglers who stay put once they find a concentration of fish. When scouting, though, he says anglers should not wait around too long in dead water. If fish are there, they will usually let you know fairly quickly this time of year. Mobility, communication with other anglers, and a willingness to check new stretches of beach can make a big difference.
For gear and bait, Blake says Fishbites and standard pompano colors can work, but live sand fleas are especially valuable right now and have been harder than usual to find. He says orange-and-white, pink-and-white, and even a single orange bead have all been producing, especially when anglers are around a big school of fish. He also notes that having a couple of rods out and giving a spot 15 to 20 minutes is often enough to tell whether fish are moving through. Anglers who do not have their own equipment can also book a trip or rent surf gear through Reel30A.
Inshore Report: Big Trout, Redfish, and Spanish Mackerel in the Bay
From there, Joe checks in with Capt. Blake Nelson of Last Cast Charters, who says the Choctawhatchee Bay area is already fishing like a late-spring setup. The trout bite has been especially strong, with plenty of fish over 20 inches and at least one fish just shy of 6 pounds. He is also seeing solid redfish action, and Spanish mackerel have arrived around bridges, flats, and drop-offs, giving anglers another fun option when weather keeps them inside.
For Spanish mackerel, Blake says he likes to troll until he finds fish, then switch over to casting jigs or freelining live bait. He is working areas like the Destin Bridge and nearby flats, especially places where shallow water falls into 5 to 10 feet. His trolling setup includes a poor man’s downrigger with a small weight and a Clarkspoon-style presentation, while his casting lures are usually small, simple white pompano jigs. He says live greenies have shown up well and are making a difference both for mackerel and for other inshore species.
For trout and redfish, Blake says live bait on Carolina rigs and knocker rigs has been producing around flats, docks, and sandy potholes. His knocker-rig setup often includes a Mustad Demon Circle hook, while his Carolina-rig approach lets him scale down leader and hook size when fish are more finicky. He has also been throwing plenty of artificials, including walk-the-dog topwaters, soft twitchbaits like a MirrOdine-style lure, and Z-Man paddle tails. His bigger point is that presentation matters more than exact lure choice right now. Long casts, quiet approaches, and getting the bait in front of unspooked fish are the details that separate average trips from really good ones.
On the tackle side, Blake says his personal inshore setups are built around light spinning tackle, usually a 2500-size reel on a 6-foot 6-inch or 6-foot 8-inch rod, with longer rods reserved for situations where extra casting distance really matters. He says anglers should think through every factor that can spook fish in clear, shallow water, from trolling motor noise to boat positioning to how wind and sun angle affect their approach.
