This week, host Joe Baya checks in with Tom Hilton, Capt. Evan Wheeler, and Justin Reed to unpack a red-hot nearshore pelagic bite, a very real inshore “fall transition,” and surf strategies for fishing around June grass. From sails and mahi sliding into 40 feet, to finesse redfish under docks, to clean-water pompano tactics, there’s a lot to chew on.
Conditions Recap
Nearshore sea surface temperatures have held steady around 83 to 84 degrees, which has helped keep sailfish, mahi, blackfin, and even the occasional wahoo within easy striking distance. Salinity along the beach is favorable at roughly mid-33 PSU, while a persistent northward current has been sliding nutrient-rich water right up to the Emerald Coast. Altimetry and current maps confirm upwelling edges are pushing bait toward the coastline and into reefs, wrecks, and FADs, which explains why pelagics have been caught in as little as 40 feet of water. Inshore, we remain in the classic fall transition period—bluebird skies, high pressure, and frequent east and northeast winds have scattered trout and made the mid-day bite unpredictable. Expect stronger fronts to finally compress bait and fish into tighter areas like bayous and river mouths. On the beaches, June grass continues to be the biggest challenge, stretching from Panama City to Alabama. Finding clean lanes is the top priority, with the most reliable bite windows coming at sunrise and sunset.
Nearshore/Offshore — Tom Hilton (Hilton Realtime Navigator)
Hilton’s Realtime Navigator played a big role in understanding why the nearshore pelagic bite has been so hot lately. Hilton explained how to “reverse engineer” successful trips by analyzing past sea surface temperature, salinity, chlorophyll, and altimetry data. The key takeaway is to stack as many favorable variables as possible—structure, current, and bait are the foundation, and when you add the right salinity and sea surface temperature to the mix, the odds of success go way up. Right now, conditions are excellent with optimal temperatures, a steady push of saltier water, and favorable current features driving nutrients right into the nearshore zone. This has allowed anglers to catch sailfish, mahi, and blackfin from kayaks and bay boats, a rare but exciting opportunity.
Hilton emphasized that the best fishing is rarely in the middle of warm-core eddies but instead along the edges where currents compress food. He also noted that while open-water rip fishermen should pay close attention to altimetry, those targeting fixed structures like FADs or rigs can often ignore it, since bait tends to “stick” to those platforms regardless. With Okaloosa County and other Gulf Coast communities continuing to expand artificial reef programs, the habitat available for both bait and predators keeps improving, ensuring that the world-class offshore fishery only gets better.
Inshore — Capt. Evan Wheeler (Tall Pines Tight Lines)
In Pensacola, Capt. Evan Wheeler made headlines by landing and releasing a mid-30-inch snook right at the Gulf interface, a sign of how dynamic the fall shuffle can be when salty water pushes unexpected species north. Evan explained that trout fishing has been scattered with the prevailing east winds and high-pressure systems. His preferred style of covering water with artificials has been tough in these conditions, as he relies on wind and ripple to move bait and stimulate strikes. Until stronger cold snaps push fish into more predictable areas, the bite will likely remain inconsistent.
Redfish, however, have provided steady action for anglers willing to finesse them out of docks and heavy structure. Evan has been targeting these fish with a 2500–3000 reel, 15–20 lb braid, and light 10–12 lb fluorocarbon leader tied to a 1/16-ounce jighead. Slick Jr. plastics, especially in pearl with chartreuse tails, have been working well when fished slowly and enhanced with Pro-Cure scent. The clear water has demanded subtle presentations, and hooking reds under docks on light tackle has been both challenging and rewarding. He also noted that bird activity can help anglers read the water: terns often signal small bait and toothy fish like Spanish mackerel and ladyfish, while diving pelicans are more likely to indicate pogies and mixed schools of trout and redfish.
Surf — Justin Reed (Justin Reed Surf Fishing Charters)
On the beaches, Justin Reed reports that October has been a classic transition month. Many summer species are on their way out, while the cool-water fishery has yet to fully take hold. The biggest issue has been widespread June grass, which makes finding clean water essential. Justin stressed that structure matters less than clarity right now—if you find a clean pocket of beach, it’s worth fishing even if it doesn’t line up with your usual holes or sandbars. When fishable, most pompano have been coming just beyond the first sandbar, in that darker green stretch between the shallow bar and the deeper trough.
Sand fleas remain the top bait, and floats are once again producing, with yellow being especially effective. Floats also help keep baits up off the bottom, where crabs are stealing them quickly. Both single- and double-drop rigs are producing, and storm sinkers in the 3–4 ounce range have been the most practical choice. While Sputniks hold bottom better, Reed prefers storm sinkers for their affordability and finds little difference in catch rates. He recommended refreshing baits every ten minutes, especially when undesirables like ladyfish and blue runners are present. The most consistent bite windows have been right around sunrise and again in the late afternoon as the sun sets. Even though pompano numbers have been inconsistent, patience and persistence in clean water are paying off with steady action.
