Northwest Florida Fishing Report

In this week's Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya covers fall fishing across the Emerald Coast following Hurricane Isaias, with redfish feeding on the flats, Spanish mackerel showing up around Destin, and blackfin tuna season approaching. This episode features Capt. Blake Nelson of Last Cast Charters and Brandon Barton of Emerald Waters Kayak Charters. Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report host Butch Thierry also joins Joe for a conversation with Mitchell Smith of Pike Consulting Group about boating and workplace safety.

Capt. Blake reports that water clarity around Choctawhatchee Bay has remained surprisingly good following the storm, with redfish continuing to feed on the flats. He shares tips for sight fishing with paddle-tail soft plastics, explains why cut mullet and ladyfish have been outperforming live bait, and discusses the arrival of larger Spanish mackerel. Mangrove snapper are also biting around bridges and other structure near Destin.

Brandon discusses improving kayak fishing around Navarre, where anglers are catching king mackerel, mahi, red snapper, and amberjack despite lingering dirty water. He explains how to prepare for the approaching blackfin tuna run, including trolling Rapala X-Raps and monitoring pier reports and water conditions. Brandon also shares his nighttime topwater tactics for targeting bull redfish around bridges, focusing on moving water, shadow lines, and tidal changes.

To close the episode, Butch talks with Mitchell Smith of Pike Consulting Group about boating safety, emergency communication devices, and the importance of workplace safety programs. Mitchell explains how OSHA compliance, employee training, and proactive safety practices can help businesses prevent accidents, avoid costly violations, and protect their employees.

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Hilton's Realtime Navigator

In this week's Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya covers fishing conditions across the Emerald Coast following Hurricane Isaias, including dirty offshore water, improving surf fishing, and blue water pushing closer to shore with promising opportunities for fall wahoo. This episode features Capt. Harris Scruggs of Triple B Fishing Charters, Justin Reed of Justin Reed Surf Fishing Charters, Angelo DePaola of The Coastal Connection, and Tom Hilton of Hilton's Realtime Navigator. Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report host Butch Thierry also joins Joe and Tom for a detailed look at finding wahoo using satellite imagery.

Capt. Harris explains how the hurricane affected offshore fishing around Panama City, with dirty water extending nearly 20 miles offshore and fish becoming harder to locate on the bottom machine. Despite the conditions, red snapper, triggerfish, and vermilion snapper are still biting. Harris shares why patience, precise boat positioning, and keeping multiple baits in the water with chicken rigs can make the difference when fishing in poor visibility. He also discusses navigating storm debris and finding productive bottom when fish aren't showing up on the electronics.

Justin reports surprisingly clean surf conditions around Pensacola and Navarre, with pompano already being caught following the storm. He explains why the second half of October should bring improving pompano, redfish, black drum, and whiting fishing as water temperatures drop. Justin also breaks down how to target black drum in the first trough using fresh shrimp and blue crab, including how to prepare crab baits, choose the right hooks, and keep bait stealers from ruining your presentation.

Angelo discusses how the hurricane has affected Gulf Coast waterfront properties and why demand for deepwater access and luxury boating communities remains strong despite higher interest rates and storm concerns. He also shares updates on Abaco Orange Beach and explains what buyers should consider when evaluating waterfront properties.

To close the episode, Tom Hilton joins Joe and Butch to explain why offshore conditions may actually be improving after the hurricane, with blue water moving closer to the coast and creating promising opportunities for fall wahoo. Using Hilton's Realtime Navigator, Tom demonstrates how to combine chlorophyll imagery, temperature breaks, currents, bottom contours, and nearshore FADs to identify productive trolling areas. The group also walks through building an efficient offshore trip using Hilton's Trip Planner, targeting wahoo, sailfish, blackfin tuna, and mahi while emphasizing the importance of sharing a float plan before heading offshore.

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Hilton's Realtime Navigator

In this week's Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya looks back at some of the best recent conversations from across the Gulf Coast, including Capt. King Marchand of Capt. Mike's Deep Sea Fishing, Capt. Branden Collier of Capt Collier Charters, Tanner Deas of Dauphin Island Fishing Charters, Dylan Kiene aka Dr. Doormat, Brandon Barton of Emerald Waters Kayak Charters, Capt. Harris Scruggs of Triple B Fishing Charters, Capt. Justin Leake of Panama City Inshore, and Capt. John Ward of Sea Tow Destin.

Capt. King breaks down the live-bait and live-chumming tactics that produced a 209-pound yellowfin tuna, including the small circle hooks that have improved his landing percentage and why bigger tuna may require significantly more live chum to trigger a bite. Joe and Butch also revisit a Panama City grouper trip with Branden, Tanner, and Dylan, where patience, tough live baits, slack-line presentations, and learning how fish relate to low-relief natural bottom made the difference.

Justin explains how live chum, light fluorocarbon, and moving water can produce oversized fall Spanish mackerel, while Brandon discusses the challenges of fighting big snapper and grouper from a kayak, including drag settings, rod length, leader length, and keeping fish out of structure. Harris covers an early-fall wahoo bite around Panama City, with fish caught surprisingly close to shore while trolling over productive water and natural bottom.

The episode also revisits Capt. John Ward's breakdown of what an unexpected boat tow can actually cost and the difference a towing membership can make. To close things out, Brandon shares an unusual triple-tail encounter, and Justin explains how kite fishing with live bait can turn windy fall conditions into opportunities for sailfish, mahi, kings, and other pelagics.

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Hilton's Realtime Navigator

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 outstanding early-fall push of blue water, bait, and pelagic fish from Pensacola to Panama City. Sailfish, mahi, blackfin tuna, king mackerel, and even wahoo are showing up close to shore, while red snapper, gag grouper, and triggerfish round out the bottom-fishing opportunities.

Brandon breaks down the Pensacola kayak bite, where crystal-clear water and huge concentrations of bait are creating excellent opportunities for sailfish, mahi, kings, and blackfin tuna. He explains how he catches cigar minnows and other live bait on small fluorocarbon Sabiki rigs, why live bait gets the nod when sailfish are around, and the tradeoff between trolling fluorocarbon for better sailfish hookups and wire when kings, Spanish mackerel, and a possible wahoo are in the mix. He also discusses trolling one live bait alongside a deep-diving lure and why sometimes the best answer to triggerfish overwhelming a bottom spot is simply to move.

Capt. Harris reports wahoo, blackfin tuna, and sailfish moving closer to Panama City, including wahoo caught in just 85 and 125 feet of water. He explains trolling around 80 to 120 feet over natural bottom and structure, using deep-diving plugs, skirted baits, and a combination of heavy mono and wire leaders. Harris also covers how to set a trolling spread based on speed, sea conditions, prop wash, and lure action, along with why anglers without satellite imagery can start by working around major public structures holding herring, hardtails, and cigar minnows.

Capt. Justin explains why Panama City is already showing the signs of a strong October, with exceptional amounts of pilchards, pogies, pinfish, Spanish sardines, threadfin herring, and cigar minnows supporting redfish, trout, mangrove snapper, Spanish mackerel, jacks, mahi, and other pelagics. Mahi have been especially impressive in state waters, with fish holding around buoys and occasionally large floating debris. When fall northeast winds make running-and-gunning difficult, Justin switches to kite fishing, drifting live baits through productive water for sailfish, mahi, kings, and other pelagics. He breaks down drift speed, bait placement, kite spacing, trolling-motor control, and why getting the presentation right can turn a windy fall day into some of the most exciting fishing of the season.

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Hilton's Realtime Navigator

In this week's Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya joins Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report host Butch Thierry, Capt. Branden Collier of Capt. Collier's Charters, Capt. Tanner Deas of Dauphin Island Fishing Charters, and Dr. Dylan Kiene, aka Dr. Doormat, to recap a wild Panama City grouper trip that produced gag grouper, red grouper, red snapper, triggerfish, and plenty of lessons about fishing natural bottom. Joe and Butch also talk with Tom Hilton of Hilton's Realtime Navigator about using chlorophyll, sea-surface temperature, current, and altimetry imagery to locate productive offshore water and plan more efficient trips.

Branden, Tanner, Dylan, and Butch break down what worked while targeting grouper on low-relief natural bottom around Panama City. Live pinfish were the most dependable bait, especially with aggressive triggerfish quickly destroying softer cigar minnows and dead baits. The group found that patience mattered, with some spots requiring 15 to 30 minutes before the grouper bite developed, and many of the best bites coming with baits laid directly on the bottom with slack line. Heavy 60- to 100-pound leaders still resulted in plenty of break-offs when gags reached holes and ledges. Slow-pitch jigging also produced, with JYG and Johnny Jigs getting bites when live bait became difficult to fish. One of the biggest takeaways was using electronics to find productive zones rather than relying on a single waypoint, then drifting and repeatedly working the surrounding natural bottom. Despite trolling-motor problems, engine trouble, a flat tire, and eventually breaking down offshore, the crew still put together a strong box of fish and emphasized the importance of offshore preparation, a hardwired VHF, and having Sea Tow available.

Tom Hilton explains how anglers can use Hilton's Realtime Navigator to build a more complete offshore picture when individual chlorophyll images are limited by cloud cover. Three-day chlorophyll views combine actual satellite shots to fill gaps, while sea-surface temperature imagery can be used alongside chlorophyll and altimetry to identify temperature breaks, color changes, current edges, weed lines, and areas likely to concentrate bait and pelagic fish. Hilton also demonstrates the Trip Planner, which allows anglers to map a route, calculate distance and estimated fuel use, save the trip, and compare the same route across different imagery layers. You can watch the full Hilton's Realtime Navigator segment here to see the imagery and trip-planning tools discussed in the episode. With cleaner water and favorable current features pushing into the northern Gulf, the conditions discussed in this episode show why stacking multiple sources of real offshore data can help anglers spend less time searching and more time fishing.

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Hilton's Realtime Navigator

In this week's Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya covers a strong transition into fall fishing from Pensacola to Destin, with redfish, trout, flounder, and mangrove snapper producing inshore while gag grouper, amberjack, red snapper, and other reef species give offshore anglers plenty of options. This episode features Capt. Tyler Massey with Hot Spots Charters and Capt. Adam Schroeder with Ignite The Bite Charters. Joe also joins Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report host Butch Thierry for a special conversation with Capt. King Marchand of Captain Mike's Fishing about a tremendous yellowfin tuna bite, including a 209-pound fish, and the live-chumming tactics being used to consistently draw big tuna to the surface.

Capt. Tyler Massey reports that Pensacola anglers have good options both inside the bay and offshore. Inshore, redfish have been the standout, with slot fish and some oversized reds holding around bridges, jetties, the pass, and other structure. Tyler says the bridge bite can be extremely tide dependent, with schools remaining around the structure but sometimes feeding aggressively for only a short window. Live scaled sardines, shrimp, and croakers have been producing, and Tyler prefers freelining larger croakers for trout, hooking them near the tail to improve casting distance and allowing an active bait to swim naturally. Mangrove snapper are also holding around bridges, residential docks, and jetties. Offshore, Tyler has been concentrating on deeper natural hard-bottom areas where gag grouper, scamp, red snapper, and amberjack can all be encountered. His best gag bite has been roughly 250 to 290 feet, with many fish running 20 pounds or better, and butterflied Boston mackerel, white snapper, red porgies, and small bonito all making effective baits. King mackerel are beginning to appear around deeper live bottom as well, and Tyler expects cooler water and an eastward push of cleaner water and bait to improve the fall pelagic bite.

Joe and Butch talk with Capt. King Marchand of Captain Mike's Fishing about an outstanding run of Gulf yellowfin tuna, including a 209-pound fish and another around 169 pounds. King says many of their biggest tuna in recent years have come on live bait, with small circle hooks helping keep fish hooked securely in the corner of the mouth. His current approach involves marking tuna around offshore rigs, putting out large numbers of live chum baits to fire up bigger fish, and then presenting a hooked bait naturally within the school. King explains that tuna marked above roughly 180 feet are generally much more catchable than fish holding deep in the water column, and he may leave a rig and return later when those deeper fish rise to feed. Joe also references this video showing a deep-water chumming technique that could potentially be adapted to deliver chum directly to tuna holding deeper in the water column. King typically starts with 80-pound fluorocarbon but may scale down as light as 40 pounds when current or fishing pressure makes the presentation difficult. His live-bait setups use Shimano Talica 25 reels with 65- to 80-pound braid, long fluorocarbon leaders connected with an FG knot, and relatively light drag early in the fight before gradually increasing pressure once the tuna settles into its circles beneath the boat. Amberjack fishing has also been strong, although King says having the right size live bait can make a major difference when trying to avoid smaller fish.

Capt. Adam Schroeder says the Destin-area inshore bite may be as good as it has been all year, while the offshore bite is producing a wide variety of reef fish. Offshore, Adam has been specifically targeting gag grouper with medium pinfish and butterflied ruby red lips, noting that the butterfly presentation helps target grouper while reducing interference from amberjack. He fishes those baits directly on the bottom with heavy tackle, a Carolina rig, roughly six to eight ounces of lead, and a five- to six-foot leader, stressing that anglers need to be ready to immediately move a gag away from structure after the strike. Amberjack, red snapper, vermilion snapper, and triggerfish are also being caught consistently, with whole live baits often preferred when specifically targeting jacks. Inshore, plentiful bait has helped produce redfish, mangrove snapper, flounder, and trout around bridges, jetties, and deeper docks. Adam uses small Carolina rigs and lighter fluorocarbon for mangroves, while bull redfish around the bridges require much heavier spinning tackle, 65- to 80-pound braid, 40- to 60-pound leaders, and larger live croakers or spot minnows. The outgoing tide has been especially productive for bull reds, and Adam expects that bite to become even more consistent as the fall pattern develops.

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Hilton's Realtime Navigator

In this week's Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya covers a wide-open September offshore season around Panama City, with amberjack, triggerfish, red snapper, and gag grouper all available, while nearshore sailfish, mahi, blackfin tuna, and king mackerel begin following huge concentrations of bait toward the beach. This episode features Capt. Harris Scruggs with Triple B Fishing Charters and Brandon Barton with Emerald Waters Kayak Charters. Joe also joins Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report host Butch Thierry for a special conversation with Capt. John Ward of Sea Tow Destin about the true cost of getting towed, what towing memberships actually cover, the difference between towing and salvage, and simple steps boaters can take to avoid becoming stranded.

Capt. Harris Scruggs reports excellent bait concentrations around Panama City, with herring, cigar minnows, and hardtails giving offshore anglers plenty of options while several popular bottom-fishing seasons overlap. Harris likes to target amberjack early on larger wrecks before transitioning into general bottom fishing for gag grouper, red snapper, triggerfish, vermilion snapper, and other reef species. For amberjack on pressured public wrecks, he recommends long leaders of roughly 15 to 20 feet with around 80-pound mono and a hook matched to the size of the bait. Gag grouper are being caught from shallower state-water structure out to roughly 120 to 300 feet, although the better catches have generally been coming from deeper water. Harris fishes a three-way setup with a bank sinker as well as knocker rigs, adjusting leader strength from roughly 40 to 100 pounds depending on bait size and the fish he expects to encounter. Triggerfish have been somewhat inconsistent, but around 150 feet has been a productive depth for larger fish. He also expects September's large bait concentrations to pull more sailfish, blackfin tuna, king mackerel, and other pelagics close to shore as water temperatures begin to fall.

Joe and Butch talk with Capt. John Ward of Sea Tow Destin about what boaters should understand before they ever need assistance on the water. John explains that non-member towing costs are based on the total time required from when the towboat leaves until it returns, not simply the distance the disabled boat is actually towed. At Sea Tow Destin, he says daytime service for non-members is $400 per hour with a two-hour minimum, meaning even a relatively simple battery jump or short tow can become expensive. The conversation covers priority service for Sea Tow members, long-distance offshore towing, insurance towing limits, and the important distinction between a routine tow and a salvage situation involving a vessel in peril. John also shares some of the most common reasons boaters call for help, including running out of fuel, electronic steering failures, blown fuses, and simple launch-day mistakes. His preventative advice includes carrying spare fuses, making sure inspection plates are secured before leaving the dock, putting enough fuel in the boat rather than relying completely on the gauge, and checking basics such as the neutral position and kill switch before assuming there is a major mechanical problem.

Brandon Barton says September is one of his favorite months for kayak fishing because enormous schools of bait can bring sailfish, mahi, blackfin tuna, and king mackerel within a mile of Northwest Florida's beaches. Brandon calls it "September sails" because of the consistent nearshore sailfish opportunity and says recent trips have been loaded with cigar minnows, sardines, and other bait. His approach is to catch live bait with a Sabiki rig and troll one live bait alongside an X-Rap or similar diving lure, using deeper-running plugs on bright, calm days and shallower presentations during low-light, overcast, or choppy conditions. Mahi have already been showing consistently, with blackfin tuna and sailfish also being hooked in the region. Around nearshore reefs, Brandon is finding red snapper, mangrove snapper, amberjack, and gag grouper, and recommends larger live baits dropped close to structure when specifically targeting gags. From a kayak, he generally starts around 50-pound tackle and prefers three- to four-foot leaders and shorter jigging-style rods that allow anglers to quickly pump powerful fish away from structure. Brandon closes with an important safety reminder: watch wind direction and changing conditions, continually check radar, wear a PFD, leave a float plan, carry a reliable means of communication, and do not push offshore when the forecast looks questionable.

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Hilton's Realtime Navigator

In this week's Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya covers the beginning of the fall transition, big Spanish mackerel around Panama City and Choctawhatchee Bay, a strong surf redfish bite around Pensacola, and sight fishing redfish on the flats. This episode features Capt. Justin Leake with Panama City Inshore, Justin Reed with Justin Reed Fishing, and Capt. Blake Nelson with Last Cast Charters. Joe also joins Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report host Butch Thierry for a special conversation with Craig Underwood from HydroGlow about choosing the right dock light for different waterfront conditions.

Capt. Justin Leake says falling water temperatures and huge concentrations of bait are signaling the beginning of the fall fishing transition around Panama City. Big "ax handle" Spanish mackerel are holding around grass-flat edges and can be targeted with live chum, 40-pound fluorocarbon, and lively baitfish. Offshore, red snapper and amberjack are providing good opportunities in state waters, while sailfish, blackfin tuna, mahi, kings, and other pelagics are beginning to show close to the beach as bait concentrations increase.

Justin Reed reports an excellent redfish bite in the Pensacola surf, including an unusually high number of slot-sized fish. He recommends single-drop rigs with blue crab, sand fleas, or cut bait, while pompano continue to hold primarily beyond the sandbar. Justin also stresses the importance of scouting beaches during daylight, identifying deeper holes and darker water, and moving when an area is not producing rather than repeatedly fishing the same beach access.

Joe and Butch talk with Craig Underwood from HydroGlow about above-water versus underwater dock lights, light color, installation, maintenance, and electrical safety. Craig explains that floating docks are often well suited for above-water DockMaster lights, while fixed docks with sufficient depth may be better candidates for underwater Sea Floor lights. Green, blue, white, and amber lights each have different applications depending on water clarity, depth, and whether the goal is attracting fish from a distance or holding bait around the dock.

Capt. Blake Nelson wraps up with improving Spanish mackerel action around Choctawhatchee Bay as greenies move onto the flats and roll-downs. Live chumming and fly-lining greenies have been productive, while sight fishing redfish provides another strong option when conditions allow. Blake recommends slowing down around productive flats, giving spooked fish time to settle, and making precise casts to fish that are still actively feeding rather than chasing reds that have already taken off.

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In this week's Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya covers a remarkably consistent late-summer pompano bite along the beaches, outstanding billfish action offshore, and an inshore mangrove snapper bite that can keep rods bent through the August heat. This episode features Blake Hunter with Reel30A, Capt. Adam Peeples with One Shot Charters, and Evan Wheeler with Tall Pines Tight Lines. Joe also joins Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report host Butch Thierry for a special conversation with the father-and-son team behind SlipSki about boat and dock covers built for waterfront conditions.

Blake Hunter starts with the surf report, where pompano continue to hold along Walton, Okaloosa, and western Bay County beaches well beyond the traditional spring season. Some of the biggest fish of the summer are now being caught, including pompano pushing well beyond the four-pound mark. Blake believes consistently high salinity may be helping keep the fish on the beach and recommends keeping the presentation simple with a two-drop pompano rig, shrimp, and Fishbites. Pink, orange, chartreuse, and white have been productive colors, with Fishbites clam-scented baits matching the coquina clams showing up in the stomachs of these fish. He also looks ahead to the fall transition, when the first cold fronts and mullet movement could bring slot redfish back into the surf.

Joe and Butch then talk with Daniel and Ed Bejrowski from SlipSki about the development of the company's aluminum boat and dock cover systems. They explain how SlipSki grew out of their experience installing a traditional canopy that they believed could be made stronger, more durable, and better suited for marine environments. The conversation covers marine-grade aluminum construction, removable canopy material for named storms, customization for existing docks, hurricane preparation, and the Dorado Oasis, which extends shade beyond the boat slip to cover much of the dock. They also discuss adapting SlipSki systems to different piling configurations, including composite EcoPile installations.

Capt. Adam Peeples reports excellent bluewater action 40 to 60 miles offshore, with sailfish, white marlin, and blue marlin concentrated around clean water, favorable current, and huge amounts of bait. Adam recently put together two billfish slams during a three-day trip and explains how he fishes dredges, teasers, and swimming ballyhoo while staying relatively light on tackle. His current setup includes Shimano Talica BFC reels, 30-pound main line, 60-pound fluorocarbon leaders, small circle hooks, and medium Baitmasters ballyhoo. The swordfish bite has also improved, with multiple recent fish over 200 pounds, while Adam expects cooling water later this fall to improve wahoo and other pelagic opportunities around the nearshore FADs.

Evan Wheeler wraps up with an inshore option for anglers looking for consistent action during the hottest part of the year. Mangrove snapper are showing up around deeper docks, bridge pilings, jetties, and other structure, giving anglers an opportunity to catch quality fish even when trout and redfish are less cooperative. Evan explains how current, depth, bait, shade, and structure determine where the fish position, and he recommends starting around 15-pound fluorocarbon over 20-pound braid before downsizing if the fish become leader-shy. Live menhaden are an excellent choice, but artificials can be equally productive. Evan has been catching mangroves on MirrOlures and durable Z-Man soft plastics paired with Pro-Cure and Eye Strike jig heads, allowing anglers to cover water and target better fish without spending the morning catching live bait.

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In this week's Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya takes a deeper look at the growing snook population along the northern Gulf Coast with Zoey Hendrickson, a PhD student with the University of South Alabama's Estuarine Ecology Lab. The conversation covers why snook are appearing more frequently in Alabama and Northwest Florida, how they are surviving winter cold snaps, and what their continued range expansion could mean for local anglers.

Zoey explains that warming winters, fewer prolonged cold periods, and the ability of snook to find thermal refuge in deeper rivers and other temperature-stable areas are helping the species establish farther north. Researchers are now seeing snook throughout the year, including juveniles that appear to be surviving multiple winters and gradually growing into larger fish. Similar patterns occurred around Cedar Key before that area developed into an established snook fishery.

The discussion also covers how adult snook move between rivers, jetties, grass flats, oyster reefs, and other estuarine habitat as water temperatures change. Zoey explains that snook are adaptable predators capable of tolerating everything from freshwater to full saltwater, giving them an advantage as they expand into new habitat. She also discusses research into tagging, habitat use, genetics, and whether these "novel native" fish could eventually compete with established species such as speckled trout.

Joe and Zoey wrap up with conservation considerations for this developing fishery. Larger snook play an important role in reproduction, and with the northern Gulf population still relatively small, releasing fish can help give the population an opportunity to become established. Anglers who catch snook are encouraged to handle them carefully, report sightings to the Estuarine Ecology Lab, and report any tagged fish so researchers can continue tracking their growth and movements.

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Pike Consulting

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Dixie Supply and Baker Metal

Admiral Shellfish

Sea Tow

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Deep South Cranes