In this week’s Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya talks with Brandon Barton of Emerald Waters Kayak Charters, Capt. Harris Scruggs of Triple B Fishing Charters, and Capt. Justin Leake of Panama City Inshore about an increasingly strong fall pelagic bite from Pensacola to Panama City. Sailfish, mahi, blackfin tuna, king mackerel, and wahoo are all part of the conversation as clear water and huge concentrations of bait move close enough to give both kayak and boat anglers legitimate opportunities.
Brandon breaks down live-bait strategies for sailfish and other pelagics from a kayak, including Sabiki selection, bait care, fluorocarbon versus wire leaders, and how he builds a simple two-rod trolling spread. Harris explains where he is finding wahoo, how fast he is trolling, the lures and leaders producing bites, and how he approaches state-water versus longer offshore pelagic trips. Justin closes the report with a detailed look at Panama City’s exceptional bait supply, mahi inside state waters, and the kite-fishing system he uses when fall northeast winds make running and gunning difficult.
Conditions Recap
Early October is shaping up around one dominant theme across Northwest Florida: bait. From Pensacola to Panama City, cigar minnows, sardines, threadfin herring, pogies, pilchards, pinfish, and other forage are abundant, and pelagic fish are taking advantage of it. Brandon describes the Pensacola water as crystal clear, while Harris says blue water and concentrations of herring are helping bring wahoo, blackfin tuna, and sailfish closer to shore. Justin is seeing an equally impressive amount of bait around Panama City, both inside the bay and in the Gulf.
The fall weather pattern is also beginning to establish itself. Cooler mornings and the first meaningful cold fronts are improving conditions, but east and northeast winds can quickly make the Gulf uncomfortable once anglers get several miles offshore. Justin says those windy days do not necessarily eliminate pelagic opportunities; they simply change the approach from sight-fishing and running between targets to setting a kite spread and covering water slowly.
Bottom fishing remains available, although the enormous amount of natural forage can make some reef fish less aggressive toward anglers’ baits. Brandon reports a somewhat slower red snapper bite around Pensacola after a long season and the recent full moon, while Harris says Panama City red snapper are still consistent but can be finicky. Gag grouper are also showing encouraging signs, with some trips producing several fish and others requiring more work.
Pensacola Kayak Fishing Report – Brandon Barton With Emerald Waters Kayak Charters
Brandon Barton with Emerald Waters Kayak Charters says Pensacola is entering one of the best times of the year for kayak anglers who want a shot at pelagic fish. The water has been exceptionally clear, bait is plentiful, and king mackerel, mahi, sailfish, and even blackfin tuna have all been part of the recent offshore picture.
Brandon’s week also produced an unusual tripletail. While fishing at night around the bridge for bull reds, he cut up a ladyfish and dragged a piece along the bottom. Instead of a redfish, a legal tripletail ate the bait and immediately began jumping. Brandon says he has caught tripletail in similarly unexpected ways before, including while dragging a large rattling pinfish-style lure during a winter bull-red trip.
The recent full moon has influenced the bite in different ways. Brandon believes bull reds around bridge lights can become less predictable during a bright full moon because the fish are able to feed away from the artificial lights. At the same time, the tripletail activity has remained interesting. Offshore, he says red snapper have been somewhat slower, but the clear water and abundance of bait have made pelagics the more exciting target.
Sabiki Rigs And Keeping Live Bait Healthy
For sailfish, Brandon puts a premium on live bait. He prefers relatively small Sabiki rigs in roughly No. 4, No. 6, or No. 8 sizes, with tiny fish-skin-style flies rather than oversized feathered hooks. In the clear Pensacola water, he likes fluorocarbon Sabikis and generally fishes a one-ounce pyramid or similar sinker when catching bait in shallow water.
Joe notes that using a heavier two- or three-ounce sinker can help keep a Sabiki stretched out and reduce tangles, especially when dropping deeper. Brandon agrees with the principle and adds one of his most important kayak-specific tips: once the first bait bites, reel the rig in instead of trying to load every hook. Hardtails can quickly twist and destroy an entire Sabiki, and hooked bait can also attract king mackerel that cut the rig in half.
Brandon generally wants around one to two dozen healthy live baits for a kayak trip. He says storage capacity matters more than simply catching as many as possible. His Hobie livewell gives him a practical way to keep cigar minnows and similar baits healthy, but he avoids overcrowding it and is cautious about mixing in larger hardtails that can injure other baitfish. Sardines can also be difficult to keep alive, while very small bonito are often best deployed immediately or saved for cut bait.
Live-Bait Trolling For Sailfish, Kings And Mahi
Once the bait is secured, Brandon generally chooses between a traditional wire king rig and a fluorocarbon leader with a circle hook. The fluorocarbon option gives the bait a more natural presentation and gives a circle hook a good chance of holding on a jumping sailfish, but it leaves the angler more vulnerable to cutoffs from king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, or a possible wahoo.
The wire rig sacrifices some stealth but keeps more options open. Brandon points out that wahoo are possible whenever mahi, sailfish, tuna, and kings are around. For a kayak angler who wants a legitimate chance at a wahoo, that possibility can be enough reason to keep wire in the spread.
Rather than trolling two large live baits that can swim across each other, Brandon often prefers a mixed spread. One live bait can be paired with a deep-diving artificial and staggered behind the kayak, giving fish two very different presentations while reducing the chance of a tangled spread. Mahi are generally willing to eat either approach.
Brandon and Joe also discuss the redesigned Penn Fierce reel, particularly the 3000- and 5000-size models. Their discussion focuses on spool and line-management improvements that can help reduce wind knots, a meaningful consideration for kayak anglers making repeated casts or trolling in changing conditions.
Brandon also asked listeners to keep an eye out for fishing equipment stolen from his shop in Cantonment. Six of the stolen rod-and-reel combinations had already been recovered, but several remained missing at the time of recording, along with a red-and-black SSR 125 mini dirt bike. Among the missing gear were several Penn, Abu Garcia, Savage Gear, Fenwick, and Battalion combinations. Brandon says there is a reward for information leading to the recovery of the remaining items and asks anyone with information to contact him through Emerald Waters Kayak Charters or his social media.
Panama City Offshore Fishing Report – Capt. Harris Scruggs With Triple B Fishing Charters
Capt. Harris Scruggs with Triple B Fishing Charters says the Panama City offshore picture is becoming increasingly interesting as wahoo, blackfin tuna, sailfish, and other pelagics follow the bait closer to the coast. Harris recently had multiple wahoo bites, including a doubleheader, while simply trolling on the way offshore.
One wahoo came from roughly 85 feet of water about 11 miles from the pass, while another bite came in approximately 125 feet of water around 23 miles out. Both productive fish ate the same chrome jet head with a multicolor rainbow-style skirt while the boat was running about 13 knots. During the doubleheader, a black-and-yellow or black-and-purple Islander-style bait running with a trolling lead also drew a strike.
The fish Harris landed were roughly 28 and 51 pounds, demonstrating that anglers do not necessarily have to make an extreme run to encounter quality wahoo when the bait and water are right.
How Harris Would Target Wahoo
If wahoo were the primary target rather than a bonus fish on the way offshore, Harris says he would slow down and work productive water more deliberately. His preferred zone would generally be from about 80 to 120 feet, concentrating on natural bottom, structure, and places where herring and other bait are holding.
His spread could include deep-diving plugs, skirted ballyhoo, Islander-style lures, and Mold Craft-style trolling baits. Leader selection depends on the presentation. Harris commonly uses heavy mono in the 150- to 200-pound range and says the recent wahoo were caught on 200-pound mono. Deep-diving plugs may get roughly 90-pound seven-strand wire to protect against a wahoo’s teeth without compromising the lure’s action.
For anglers with only a few hours, Harris says state waters and areas within several miles of the beach can still produce a sailfish, blackfin, wahoo, or mahi if a strong bait concentration is present. For a dedicated eight- to ten-hour pelagic trip, he would be more inclined to work roughly 15 to 25 miles offshore and around 120 feet, where anglers can spend more time searching for multiple bites.
Finding Pelagics Without Perfect Offshore Imagery
When anglers do not have a fresh satellite image or a clearly defined color break to work with, Harris recommends beginning with major public structures and well-known areas that consistently gather bait. Instead of treating one waypoint as the entire target, work between structures, watch the sonar and surface activity, and let bait concentrations dictate where to spend time.
Boat management becomes especially important when two or more pelagics bite at once. Harris keeps the boat in gear at roughly the same RPM long enough to keep tension on the fish, gets anglers situated, clears unnecessary rods, and watches line capacity before making a controlled turn back toward the fish. Immediately stopping the boat can create slack, crossed lines, and lost opportunities.
Harris also adjusts lure placement based on trolling speed, sea state, prop wash, and how each bait behaves. At a slower trolling speed around eight knots, the nearest lure might be only 20 to 30 feet behind the boat, while the farthest shotgun presentation can be 70 to 150 yards back. The goal is not to follow a fixed distance chart but to place each lure where it is running cleanly.
Red Snapper And Gag Grouper
Red snapper remain available in state waters, but Harris says many of the fish are extremely well fed. Fish he has cleaned have been packed with small cigar minnows, vermilion snapper, crabs, and other forage, which can make them less aggressive toward additional bait. Many of the snapper have been in the 18- to 22-inch range, with larger fish still mixed in.
Gag grouper have also been encouraging. Some of Harris’s better recent trips have produced six to eight fish, while other days may only give up one or two. Longer trips generally improve the odds because they allow the crew to reach more areas and keep searching when the first stops do not produce.
Panama City Inshore And Nearshore Report – Capt. Justin Leake With Panama City Inshore
Capt. Justin Leake with Panama City Inshore says fall fishing around Panama City is getting better by the day. The first cooler mornings have arrived, and the amount of bait in the system is exceptional. Pilchards, pogies, pinfish, Spanish sardines, threadfin herring, and cigar minnows are all available, creating opportunities for redfish, trout, Spanish mackerel, mangrove snapper, jacks, king mackerel, sailfish, and mahi.
The same abundance of bait that drives the fall bite can make some reef fishing more difficult. Justin says reef fish can become so full of three- to five-inch cigar minnows that adding another bait to the menu does not always trigger an immediate response. For anglers looking for fast action, the pelagic bite may be the more productive direction.
Mahi Inside State Waters
Mahi have been one of the standout opportunities. Justin says the fish showing up now are generally larger than many of the small dolphin anglers encounter earlier in the season, and a fish over 10 pounds is a substantial opponent on the light tackle he often uses.
Buoys, floating debris, weed, and any unusual object deserve a close look. Justin says those pieces of structure can repopulate with fish overnight even after another boat has already fished them. When the mahi become picky, he scales down to roughly six feet of 20-pound fluorocarbon, a small circle hook, and a lively Spanish sardine or cigar minnow.
Live chumming can completely change the mood of a school. Justin often carries hundreds of pilchards and throws small amounts of live bait to keep mahi around the boat and turn following fish into feeding fish. On calm, clear days he prefers a run-and-gun approach from the tower, scanning for birds, debris, color changes, and surface activity.
One recent example came after guide Kyle Pitts located a mostly submerged log roughly 15 feet long. The object was holding an extraordinary number of dolphin, ranging from small school fish to mahi in the eight- to 12-pound class. The school was found well within state waters, reinforcing how productive nearshore floating structure can become when bait and clean water line up.
Kite Fishing When The Fall Wind Arrives
When an east or northeast wind builds to 15 or 20 knots, running and gunning becomes much less practical beyond a few miles. Justin’s answer is kite fishing. Instead of trying to visually locate every fish, he catches quality live bait early, deploys a wide spread, and lets the boat drift through water where bait and pelagics have been holding.
Depending on the bite, Justin may fish anywhere from three to 10 live baits. He commonly fishes two kites with three baits under each and then adds flatlines or deeper presentations when the bite is slower. On a fast day, he may not even get the second kite fully deployed before the first spread starts getting eaten.
Bait placement changes with drift speed. Justin normally bridles the bait around the back or dorsal area, but the faster the boat moves, the farther forward he shifts the attachment point so the bait can keep its head oriented correctly and swim rather than being dragged sideways. He tries to keep the overall drift around one mile per hour; around three miles per hour is generally too fast for the presentation he wants.
Justin spaces the release points on his kite line at roughly 80-foot intervals and uses waxed-floss stopper loops instead of small swivels. He moved away from swivels after corrosion-related failures sent kites flying away from the boat. The floss-loop system keeps the kite line continuous and removes another piece of hardware that can fail.
Using Current And Trolling-Motor Drift Control
Wind direction alone does not determine how Justin wants the boat to move. He pays close attention to current because pelagic fish often orient and feed into it. His goal is to move the spread toward fish traveling into the current rather than simply drifting alongside them at the same speed and direction.
During the recent pattern, the current had been moving west to east while the fall wind sometimes opposed it. Justin uses his trolling motor to correct the boat’s direction and maintain the drift he wants. With a drift-control function, he can place a waypoint several miles away at roughly the same depth, set a speed around one mile per hour, and let the trolling motor continually adjust while he concentrates on the kite spread.
That level of control matters because a kite spread can cover a very large area around the boat. Justin color-codes the floats connected to individual baits so anglers can quickly identify the correct rod when a bait becomes nervous or pulls away from the spread.
When a fish begins chasing a bait, Justin wants the angler holding the rod, the reel in free spool with the clicker engaged, and the bait close enough to the surface that everyone can see what is happening. He may feed additional line to let the bait dig or tighten the line to bring it back toward the surface. Once the fish actually eats and begins taking line, the angler pushes the lever drag forward, allowing the line to pop from the kite clip, then reels steadily through the temporary slack until the line comes tight.
Justin says the system takes practice, but once it is dialed in it can be one of the most effective fall presentations for sailfish, mahi, king mackerel, bonito, and other pelagics around Panama City.
Offshore Safety Still Matters
Justin also emphasizes adjusting safety decisions to the distance of the trip. On nearshore trips where cell coverage and other boats are close, he may shut the main engine down while fishing. On long single-outboard runs far offshore and outside normal cell coverage, he prefers to leave the engine running. He also carries a personal locator beacon and VHF radio as part of his offshore safety setup.
