In this week's Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya tracks a late March transition with a strong offshore update out of Destin and an inshore speckled trout report from the Pensacola area. This episode features Capt. Adam Peoples of One Shot Charters on wahoo, swordfish, and open-water tuna action, plus Capt. Evan Wheeler of Tall Pines Tight Lines on pre-spawn trout behavior during a stretch of changing weather. The big theme this week is that spring opportunities are building, but anglers still need to adjust to shifting conditions and stay flexible day to day.

Joe starts offshore with Capt. Adam Peeples of One Shot Charters in Destin. Adam breaks down a weekend that included a wahoo bite at the FADs, steady swordfish action, and open-water tuna schools pushing bait on the surface. He explains how he likes to slow troll a varied spread for wahoo, why he sticks with mono instead of wire on diving plugs, and what anglers should look for when rigging spinning setups for tuna on swimbaits.

Next, Joe heads inshore with Capt. Evan Wheeler of Tall Pines Tight Lines for a Pensacola-area trout report. Evan says March remains a tough but rewarding transition month, with fish shifting between winter and spring patterns depending on temperature, tide, and daily conditions. He explains how big trout are balancing warmth, forage, and spawning movement, and he shares a detailed look at confidence baits, search baits, and why lure choice should match depth, cover, and the specific type of trout fishing you are trying to do.

To wrap, Joe and Evan look ahead to the next couple of weeks and agree that the late March to early April window should keep producing chances at quality trout, especially as conditions settle and fish move closer to a true spring pattern.

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In this week's Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya covers a classic March transition with updates from the surf, inshore, offshore, and the boating scene. This episode features Justin Reed on the Pensacola to Navarre surf bite, Jim Cox on The Wharf Boat and Yacht Show in Orange Beach, Capt. Blake Nelson on Destin trout and redfish, and Capt. Tyler Massey on Pensacola offshore action. The common thread is that things are improving, but most fisheries are still just on the edge of their full spring pattern.

Joe starts with Justin Reed of Justin Reed Fishing for a surf report focused on pompano. Justin says there were a few better days leading up to the full moon, but the bite has been inconsistent since, with redfish, whiting, and catfish filling in while anglers wait for the real run to kick off. He explains why late March into early April still looks like the better window and shares how he staggers baits across the beach to find where fish are traveling.

Next, Joe checks in with Jim Cox for a preview of The Wharf Boat and Yacht Show, set for March 20 through 22 at The Wharf in Orange Beach. Jim breaks down what makes the show special, from in-water boats and yachts to hundreds more on land, along with why boat show season can be a great time to compare models and find real buying incentives.

From there, Joe talks with Capt. Blake Nelson of Last Cast Charters in Destin about an inshore bite centered on trout and redfish. Blake explains how fish are using creek mouths, bayous, and nearby flats based on food and conditions, and he shares why popping corks with live shrimp and weedless soft plastics are good tools right now.

To wrap, Capt. Tyler Massey of Hot Spots Fishing Charters gives an offshore report centered on vermilion snapper and triggerfish. Tyler explains how to find better triggerfish on smaller structure, how he distinguishes vermilions and triggers on the machine, and why April should bring more Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, and other spring opportunities.

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In this week's Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya tees up an early spring transition with three quick-hit conversations—plus a reminder on the Emerald Coast Boat & Lifestyle Show in Panama City Beach (March 6–8 at Aaron Bessant Park by Pier Park) for anyone ready to stop guessing and start stepping on boats.

Joe starts inshore with Capt. Evan Wheeler of Tall Pines Tight Lines in the Pensacola area to break down "messy middle" fishing: persistent negative tides, low water, and fronts that don't always reset fish into a clean winter pattern. Evan explains what to hunt for on tough days (birds, bait, and depth changes near warming water), why slowing down and changing cadence can flip the switch on trout, and the simple gear approach he leans on in spring—20 lb braid with leader choices that match the lure and strike intensity.

Next, Joe checks in with Capt. Harris Scruggs of Triple B Fishing out of Panama City on spring-break nearshore trips targeting triggerfish and vermilion snapper, with better beeliners showing on wreck edges. Harris shares the key triggerfish tip: fish your way down, watch for subtle "slow-down" bites on the drop, and get tight fast—plus when lighter hooks and smaller baits help clients actually stick fish.

To wrap, Blake Hunter of Reel30A says pompano are on the cusp, with big fish showing before the schools, and stresses that right now success is about beach structure—especially finding a productive hole or depression and soaking baits in the right water. He points to late March into early April as a prime window for the best odds along the Emerald Coast.

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In this week's Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya leans on two timely conversations to make sense of a windy, weather-scrambled week: offshore wahoo intel from Hilton's Real-Time Navigator and a Pensacola-area inshore kayak pattern that's producing reds and trout during warm windows.

Joe starts with Butch Thierry and Tom Hilton to talk "good wahoo water" for boats running out of Pensacola, Destin, and Panama City. Tom explains dialing in a wahoo temp range in the upper 60s into the 70s to make clean edges pop, then stacking the odds with water color, current, structure, and bait. They key in on Destin FADs and the Oriskany area, why even small temp breaks can matter when they're tight and defined, and how current hitting contour can create the kind of feeding zone you want to fish.

To wrap, Joe checks in with Brandon Barton of Emerald Waters Kayak Charters on a fun inshore bite: redfish and trout eating topwater well beyond first light when conditions warm up. Brandon breaks down his go-to spook-style baits, when he upsizes for ripple, and how he works saltwater chatterbaits through submerged grass in dirtier river water to trigger winter reds. He also shares how drone scouting is changing his view of where trophy-class trout and mixed schools are staging in shallow ICW water during midday warming periods, plus a quick look ahead to March kayak offshore opportunities for blackfin tuna and early-season reef fishing.

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In this week's Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya delivers a winter "real report" across the Panhandle with three key conversations: surf fishing, boat-show season, and a tough-but-producible inshore bay bite.

On the surf side, Joe talks with Justin Reed of Justin Reed Fishing about February slowdowns and how to prep for spring—favorite rod lengths (9–10' vs 12'), why he likes 5000-size reels for torque, and must-have surf tackle like Sputnik sinkers, pompano rigs, and sand fleas.

They also preview boat season with Jim Cox in an Emerald Coast Boat & Lifestyle Show rundown, covering what to expect at the show, why seeing boats in person matters, and the coastal-lifestyle vendors and seminars that make it a full family event.

To wrap, Joe checks in with Justin Leake of Panama City Inshore on winter inshore fishing—focusing on protected bayous and deeper creeks for trout and redfish, using suspending jerkbaits to locate fish, and leaning on live shrimp when the bite gets picky as water temps start creeping toward spring.

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In this week's Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya and co-host Butch Thierry step away from the usual bite breakdown to deliver a wintertime episode that can save lives on the water. They focus on boating safety, complacency, and the small gear decisions that matter most when something goes wrong fast.

On the safety side, they sit down with Capt. Larry Higgins, owner of KWiggler Lures, who shares a firsthand account of a low-light boating collision in a bayou that ended with him ejected from the boat and suffering multiple hip fractures. Larry explains how quickly the situation developed, why being close to the bank in shallow water likely kept the outcome from being far worse, and how an Apple Watch became a critical communication tool when phones were lost in the chaos.

They also dig into the biggest takeaway from the incident: you can be wearing a kill switch and still be wearing it wrong. Larry breaks down how his bungee-style lanyard looped around his wrist nearly failed to pull free, the importance of attaching the lanyard to a reliable point that will not rip out, and why testing your kill switch should be part of your routine. The episode closes with practical winter safety priorities—wearing a PFD you will actually keep on, keeping signaling gear accessible, and building habits that reduce risk no matter what other boaters do.

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Hilton's Realtime Navigator

In this week's Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya and co-host Angelo DePaola of The Coastal Connection mix fishing and Gulf Coast living, with Angelo sharing a quick update on the Northwest Florida real estate market and what buyers and sellers should be thinking about as 2026 gets underway.

On the fishing side, they sit down with Brandon Barton of Emerald Waters Kayak Charters to break down offshore winter flounder fishing on nearshore reefs—an overlooked cold-season bite that can be done by boat or kayak. Brandon covers the depth range he targeted (roughly 50–65 feet), how to stay positioned on structure in wind and current, and how to read the subtle flounder bite and time your hookset.

They also dig into the simple, effective tackle approach—bucktail-style jigs with durable strip bait like bonita, dialing in jig weight for solid bottom contact, and why a net matters for landing flounder consistently—then close with winter safety priorities and a reminder on stewardship when fish are stacked up offshore.

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Hilton's Realtime Navigator

In this week's Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya and co-host Butch Thierry sit down with Capt. Kendall Annan of Gulf Rebel Charters to talk artificial reefs, including how projects with Reefmaker can build private structure that improves the fishery and your bottom fishing long term.

Kendall shares what he's learned from both the wheelhouse and scuba diving his reefs, including what designs hold fish best, how fish often stage off the structure, and how long it takes a new reef to start producing.

They also cover how to manage pressure so a hot spot stays hot, plus how to get started legally and how Reefmaker can handle permitting and deployment.

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In this week's Northwest Florida Fishing Report, we cover prime winter fishing on the Emerald Coast! Local expert Justin Reed with Justin Reed Fishing shares pro tips for surf fishing tactics targeting black drum and pompano near Pensacola. Capt. Blake Nelson of Last Cast Charters outlines tournament-winning redfish strategies in Choctawhatchee Bay. Offshore, Capt. Adam Peeples with One Shot Charters details targeting red grouper, wahoo, dolphin, and blue marlin near Destin, with advice on live and dead bait, temperature breaks, and adapting to changing Gulf conditions. Whether you're focused on beach, bay, or offshore action, get the latest winter fishing hotspots, gear recommendations, and seasonal techniques from top Northwest Florida captains.

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In this week's episode of the Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya is joined by top local captains and guides: Captain Tyler Massey of Hot Spots Charters, Captain Evan Wheeler of Tall Pines Tight Lines, and surf fishing expert Blake Hunter from Reel 30A.

The crew breaks down the best winter fishing tactics for inshore, offshore, and beach anglers from Pensacola to Panama City. Learn where and how to catch high-demand species like pompano, redfish, black drum, sheepshead, speckled trout, and scamp grouper this season, plus get pro tips on the best rigs, baits (live and artificial), and interpreting tides and weather—essential insights for targeting big winter fish.

The show also discusses latest fishery updates, conservation-minded practices, and captain-recommended gear. Whether you're planning a fishing trip or want to stay up to date on the Northwest Florida Gulf Coast scene, this episode offers actionable advice for success.

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Hilton's Realtime Navigator