PC/PCB Fishing Report 4-25-25
This week we had more stable weather and especially winds so the opportunities to get out there were readily available. Water temperatures rebounded as we forecasted and are now about 75 degrees. There have been a lot of successful trips this week with most species being caught! Details are below!
Bay Fishing
We have been under neap tides to close out the week, but we break out of that on Saturday with morning high tides starting out at just over a foot and growing from there. This should be great for the morning bite especially.
There was a decent amount of spanish caught this week by those trolling and some casting. Considering the tidal movement, early Saturday should be good if you are after some spanish mackerel.
The trout are good, and they are in a full on springtime pattern. The morning bite should be really good with high tides pushing the trout up into the shallow flats and bayous. This is also a great time to catch redfish up there too! A live shrimp bumped across a grass flat in 3’- 4’ of water on a 1oz carolina rig at or around high tide is a great way to get a slot redfish. Both boats and shore anglers can and did this this week with that setup.
There have been some whiting around the Baily Bridge and on the bottom around the Hathaway bridge as well.
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Surf Fishing
The pompano bite early in the week was really good or really bad from shore. You had to be in the right spot to get them it seemed. As the weather stabilized, the bite has returned. Many folks are now easily getting at least a few to completely limiting out. There are some short pompano mixed in and some hardtails have shown up. The slot redfish are also crashing that party as well.
There are lots of sandfleas available, but always take some shrimp or blanched sandfleas just in case they are harder to find. This way you can go ahead and get rods out and hunt for sandfleas while waiting on a bite.
The bite has been over the first bar. Decently over has out produced vs just over, or in close. Structure leading from the beach to and through the first bar. Especially if it creates an outgoing current as waves retreat back off the shoreline. If you are not catching them after a bit, try another area. It could be within 100 yards or so down the beach.
There have also been some good whiting caught as well. The ladyfish have not been a nuisance so far, but that could change at any time. There has also been an uptick in big uglies, A.K.A. black drum, being caught as well.
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Pier Fishing
The pompano bite has been amazing! Once again, there have been days they put 200+ on the piers. Another good thing has been that the bite has spread from shallow to deep vs just between the bars. This means you can still find your own spot. According to anglers there, they are hitting both jigs and set rigs. Sandfleas have been the way to go so grab your sandflea rake and dig some before you go! We have them blanched and frozen here in the store as well as the good all aluminum sandflea rakes that will last you a lifetime.
I would dig them up the night before. Keep them cool and slightly elevated off the bottom of the container. They need to be rinsed with cool saltwater at least a couple of times or more since their wasts will poison them and kill them. DO NOT put them in a bucket of water or they will die. Just refill a water bottle with gulf water and keep in cool temperatures. Rinse as needed. (Pro tip – Label the bottle “Do not drink” or you will make the mistake and chug a lug a nice salty mouth full of it! I know this form experience!)
The redfish have shown up and many slots are now being caught as well. Spanish mackerel are being caught on many things including the bubble rigs. These are great to slow down your retrieve and cast a bit less. We have bubble floats and the rigs. If you are not familiar, just come in and we will show you.
The kings have been caught, but not crazy. That could change soon with all the bait hanging out. The cobia have not shown too much, there have been a few. There have also been a few sheephead reported as well.
Bottom Fishing
The bite is fantastic right now. If you want a quick run out ad back, the vermillion snapper should be your primary target. Limits are quick if you get on them. Basically 100ft or deeper holds the best in size and quantity.
Captain Chewey Hartsfield with Chewey’s Charters has been catching some vermillion, but many of his clients have wanted to get a big pull. The amberjack and red snapper have been great at that. He also has landed some nice gag grouper. Those are out of season currently, but he did get into some nice red grouper this week to add to the fish box!
One common thing has been some mahi showing up while bottom fishing. Keeping some small spinning rods with a 1/4oz jig and fluke style plastic is a good way to be prepared to get them quickly if they show up. This opportunity can be fleeting if you are not ready. A way to buy time and keep them around is to keep some kind of cigar minnows, or northern mackerel ready. Mince it up into very, very small pieces and pitch out small handfuls to keep them around and feeding.
Nearshore Trolling
Spanish mackerel are the primary catch. High tides are going to be in the morning so it should be great just outside the and sandbars down the beach.
As far as king mackerel go, it has been hit and miss. There have been kings at times and that should be on the increase with temperatures in the mid 70’s.
Offshore
Another giant bluefin was caught this week and it beat the 721 lb one just caught. The latest one tipped the scales at over 800 lbs!
There have not been a lot of reports, but the ones that went either struggled a bit and hit some bottom spots to fill the cooler, or caught some wahoo, blackfin tuna, and mahi. Especially around the FADs.
