Borderland Bites, Gulf Fish Care, and Cooking Tips from Hank Shaw

This week’s episode of the Northwest Florida Fishing Report features a deep dive into culinary and conservation perspectives with award-winning author and outdoorsman Hank Shaw. Fresh off a fishing trip to Santa Rosa Beach, Hank joins the show to talk about his new book Borderlands—a culinary journey through the US-Mexico borderlands packed with wild game and seafood recipes. He also shares expert advice on fish care techniques like bleeding, ikejime, and proper freezing methods to improve flavor and texture, especially for Gulf species like king mackerel, amberjack, and snapper. For anglers who love to cook their catch, this episode is a must-listen.

The Northwest Florida Fishing Report is your best resource for the Destin Fishing Report, Panama City Fishing Report, Pensacola Fishing Report, Navarre Fishing Report, and everywhere in between.

It's all brought to you whether it's good, bad, or ugly. Please Subscribe, Rate, and Review wherever you listen to podcasts. Don’t forget to text the word “NWFFR” to 779-345-2918 to get that AFTCO camo lens cleaner cloth and to join our email list for weekly updates!

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Killerdock

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Great Days Outdoors

Hilton’s Realtime Navigator

Bucks Island Marine

AFTCO

Sea Tow

Shoreline Plastics

Return Em Right

Southeastern Pond Management

Pure Flats

Admiral Shellfish

Tarpon Tactics, Tuna Trends, and Gulf Coast Real Estate

This week on the Northwest Florida Fishing Report Brandon Barton covers the inshore and nearshore scene from Pensacola to Panama City, where trout and redfish are hitting topwaters on grass flats and tarpon are beginning to show. He shares his go-to setups, bait strategies, and why dirty water can actually work in your favor when chasing silver kings from a kayak.

Offshore, Tom Hilton breaks down the latest environmental data, from Loop Current shifts to salinity breaks, while Captain Adam Peeples shares reports on swordfish, tuna, and marlin action in clean green water. He talks popper tactics, bait availability, and what’s driving the pelagic bite offshore.

Plus, we preview the Mobile Big Game Fishing Club Junior Anglers Tournament and get a real estate market update from Angelo DePaola, who explains why sellers need to move fast—and why buyers have more leverage than they think.

The Northwest Florida Fishing Report is your best resource for the Destin Fishing Report, Panama City Fishing Report, Pensacola Fishing Report, Navarre Fishing Report, and everywhere in between.

It's all brought to you whether it's good, bad, or ugly. Please Subscribe, Rate, and Review wherever you listen to podcasts. Don’t forget to text the word “NWFFR” to 779-345-2918 to get that AFTCO camo lens cleaner cloth and to join our email list for weekly updates!

Important Links:

Sponsors

Fishbites

Dixie Supply and Baker Metal

Killerdock

Test Calibration

Coastal Connection EXP Realty

Great Days Outdoors

Hilton’s Realtime Navigator

Bucks Island Marine

AFTCO

Sea Tow

Shoreline Plastics

Return Em Right

Southeastern Pond Management

Pure Flats

Admiral Shellfish

Kayak snapper, topwater trout, and panhandle pelagics—insider tips from the region’s sharpest anglers.

This week we’re talking to:

Blake Nelson of Last Cast Charters, who’s been chasing trout and redfish across East Bay and Santa Rosa Sound. He shares where he’s finding cleaner water, why topwaters have been so effective lately, and what makes this year’s trout bite stand out. He also discusses patterns around pinfish and how moon phases are impacting the inshore bite.

Captain Adam Peeples of One Shot Charters gives a high-level offshore report, including what to expect with red snapper season open. He discusses current trends with bait movement, thermocline effects, and why anglers need to be willing to move around. Adam also highlights the changing pelagic scene—blackfin tuna, mahi, and even some blue marlin—and what gear he uses to chase big fish deep.

Captain Blake Hunter of Reel30A offers a surfside and nearshore perspective out of Panama City. He shares his take on early morning pompano opportunities, Spanish mackerel movement, and what he’s seeing with tarpon activity starting to kick up. He also talks king mackerel setups and what tourists should keep in mind when heading to the sand.

Tune in for timely reports and expert tips from anglers who fish the Gulf day in and day out.

The Northwest Florida Fishing Report is your best resource for the Destin Fishing Report, Panama City Fishing Report, Pensacola Fishing Report, Navarre Fishing Report, and everywhere in between.

It's all brought to you whether it's good, bad, or ugly. Please Subscribe, Rate, and Review wherever you listen to podcasts. Don’t forget to text the word “NWFFR” to 779-345-2918 to get that AFTCO camo lens cleaner cloth and to join our email list for weekly updates!

Important Links:

Sponsors

Fishbites

Dixie Supply and Baker Metal

Killerdock

Test Calibration

Coastal Connection EXP Realty

Great Days Outdoors

Hilton’s Realtime Navigator

Bucks Island Marine

AFTCO

Sea Tow

Shoreline Plastics

Return Em Right

Southeastern Pond Management

Pure Flats

Admiral Shellfish

Kayak snapper, topwater trout, and panhandle pelagics—insider tips from the region’s sharpest anglers.

This week we’re talking to:

Blake Nelson of Last Cast Charters, who’s been chasing trout and redfish across East Bay and Santa Rosa Sound. He shares where he’s finding cleaner water, why topwaters have been so effective lately, and what makes this year’s trout bite stand out. He also discusses patterns around pinfish and how moon phases are impacting the inshore bite.

Captain Adam Peeples of One Shot Charters gives a high-level offshore report, including what to expect with red snapper season open. He discusses current trends with bait movement, thermocline effects, and why anglers need to be willing to move around. Adam also highlights the changing pelagic scene—blackfin tuna, mahi, and even some blue marlin—and what gear he uses to chase big fish deep.

Captain Blake Hunter of Reel30A offers a surfside and nearshore perspective out of Panama City. He shares his take on early morning pompano opportunities, Spanish mackerel movement, and what he’s seeing with tarpon activity starting to kick up. He also talks king mackerel setups and what tourists should keep in mind when heading to the sand.

Tune in for timely reports and expert tips from anglers who fish the Gulf day in and day out.

The Northwest Florida Fishing Report is your best resource for the Destin Fishing Report, Panama City Fishing Report, Pensacola Fishing Report, Navarre Fishing Report, and everywhere in between.

It's all brought to you whether it's good, bad, or ugly. Please Subscribe, Rate, and Review wherever you listen to podcasts. Don’t forget to text the word “NWFFR” to 779-345-2918 to get that AFTCO camo lens cleaner cloth and to join our email list for weekly updates!

Important Links:

Sponsors

Fishbites

Dixie Supply and Baker Metal

Killerdock

Test Calibration

Coastal Connection EXP Realty

Great Days Outdoors

Hilton’s Realtime Navigator

Bucks Island Marine

AFTCO

Sea Tow

Shoreline Plastics

Return Em Right

Southeastern Pond Management

Pure Flats

Admiral Shellfish

Boat names, custom gear, and the stories behind what we call our vessels—all in this week’s show.

This week we’re joined by Nick Parente with The Custom Captain, who dives into the art and meaning behind naming your boat. From sentimental nods to family, careers, or hometowns, to clever puns and funny one-liners, Nick shares how boat names reflect a boater’s personality and style. The crew also discusses trends in naming based on boat type, and how The Custom Captain helps bring those names to life through custom logos, illustrations, and high-quality gear designed for the water.

Tune in for a fun, laid-back episode that celebrates the culture and creativity behind what we call our boats.

The Northwest Florida Fishing Report is your best resource for the Destin Fishing Report, Panama City Fishing Report, Pensacola Fishing Report, Navarre Fishing Report, and everywhere in between.

For the anglers looking for a Destin Fishing Report, Ft. Walton Beach fishing report, Choctawhatchee Bay Fishing Report, or Miramar Beach fishing report, look no further. Every week we bring you a report for those anglers interested in an Okaloosa Island fishing report and a Santa Rosa Beach fishing report, and everywhere in between. For our guys looking for the Pensacola fishing report or the Navarre Fishing Report, we’ve got you covered.

It's all brought to you whether it's good, bad, or ugly. Please Subscribe, Rate, and Review wherever you listen to podcasts, and don't forget to text the word “NWFFR” to 779-345-2918 to get that AFTCO CAMO LENS CLEANER CLOTH or to be added to our email list and we'll send you the new show each week!

Important Links:

Sponsors

Fishbites

Dixie Supply and Baker Metal

Killerdock

Test Calibration

Coastal Connection EXP Realty

Great Days Outdoors

Hilton’s Realtime Navigator

Bucks Island Marine

AFTCO

Sea Tow

Shoreline Plastics

Return Em Right

Southeastern Pond Management

Pure Flats

Admiral Shellfish

Freelined snapper, topwater trout, wake baits for redfish & offshore prep tips that could save your trip.

This week we’re talking to:

Brandon Barton with Emerald Waters Kayak Charters, who dives into late spring fishing in the Pensacola area. He shares how he’s targeting snapper from a kayak using freelined bonita chunks, and why fresh bait, light tackle, and chunking strategy make all the difference. Brandon also breaks down inshore action on the grass flats, including explosive topwater strikes from trout and redfish. He highlights wake baits as an effective and beginner-friendly option in rougher conditions—and shares his go-to picks and techniques.

Capt. Harris Scruggs with Triple B Fishing walks us through what it really takes to prepare for a successful offshore trip. From fuel, ice, and water planning to float plans, emergency gear, backup tools, and weather analysis, Capt. Harris shares hard-earned knowledge from years of running long-range charters. This is a deep dive into what separates a smooth day offshore from a costly mistake.

Tune in to get powerful insights from the area's best local guides.

The Northwest Florida Fishing Report is your best resource for the Destin Fishing Report, Panama City Fishing Report, Pensacola Fishing Report, Navarre Fishing Report, and everywhere in between.

For the anglers looking for a Destin Fishing Report, Ft. Walton Beach fishing report, Choctawhatchee Bay Fishing Report, or Miramar Beach fishing report, look no further. Every week we bring you a report for those anglers interested in an Okaloosa Island fishing report and a Santa Rosa Beach fishing report, and everywhere in between. For our guys looking for the Pensacola fishing report or the Navarre Fishing Report, we’ve got you covered.

It's all brought to you whether it's good, bad, or ugly. Please Subscribe, Rate, and Review wherever you listen to podcasts, and don't forget to text the word “NWFFR” to 779-345-2918 to get that AFTCO CAMO LENS CLEANER CLOTH or to be added to our email list and we'll send you the new show each week!

Important Links:

Sponsors

Fishbites

Dixie Supply and Baker Metal

Killerdock

Test Calibration

Coastal Connection EXP Realty

Great Days Outdoors

Hilton’s Realtime Navigator

Bucks Island Marine

Salts Gone

Sea Tow

Bottom fish, trout, flounder & photo tips! Captains share hot bites & advice for fun trips with anglers of any skill level.

This week we’re talking to:

Capt. Harris Scruggs with Triple B Fishing Charters and he gets into detail with the bottom fishing bite and how to plan a trip that your crew will love, regardless of their age or skill level. The beeliner, triggerfish, red grouper, and kingfish bite is awesome right now and Capt. Harris points us in the right direction. Capt. Evan Wheeler with Tall Pines Tight Lines details his efforts to catch big speckled trout on artificials and he’s finding plenty of red and black drum along with some flounder while searching them out. Great tips this week for introducing simple lures to beginners. Lastly we hook up with the folks at Return Em Right to learn how to get better fish photos on the water. 

Tune in to get powerful insights from the area's best local guides. 

The Northwest Florida Fishing report is your best resource for the Destin Fishing Report, Panama City Fishing Report, Pensacola Fishing Report, Navarre Fishing Report, and everywhere in between.

For the anglers looking for a Destin Fishing Report, Ft. Walton Beach fishing report, Choctawhatchee Bay Fishing Report, or Miramar Beach fishing report, look no further. Every week we bring you a report for those anglers interested in an Okaloosa Island fishing report and a Santa Rosa Beach fishing report and everywhere in between. For our guys looking for the Pensacola fishing report or the Navarre Fishing Report, we’ve got you covered.

It's all brought to you whether it's good, bad, or ugly. Please Subscribe, Rate, and review wherever you listen to podcasts, and don't forget to text the word “nwffr” to 779-345-2918  to get that AFTCO CAMO LENS CLEANER CLOTH  or click here to be added to our email list and we'll send you the new show each week! 

Important Links:

Sponsors

Fishbites

Dixie Supply and Baker Metal

Killerdock

Test Calibration

Coastal Connection EXP Realty

Great Days Outdoors

Hilton’s Realtime Navigator

Bucks Island Marine

Salts Gone

Full moon pompano tips, inshore trout & redfish, mahi offshore, and swordfish tourney strategy for East Pass Open!

This week we’re talking to:

Blake Hunter with https://www.reel30a.com/ gets in depth for Pompano fishing around the full moon and the heavy rains. Capt. Justin Leake with Panama City Inshore gives us the detail on both inshore and offshore fishing. The bite has been strong for speckled trout and redfish inshore as well as mangrove snapper nearshore. Offshore Mahi are everywhere! Last up we talk with Capt. Adam Peeples with One Shot Charters to get the strategy for getting in the money at the East Pass Broadbill Open this weekend. The weather looks prime!

Tune in to get powerful insights from the area's best local guides. 

The Northwest Florida Fishing report is your best resource for the Destin Fishing Report, Panama City Fishing Report, Pensacola Fishing Report, Navarre Fishing Report, and everywhere in between.

For the anglers looking for a Destin Fishing Report, Ft. Walton Beach fishing report, Choctawhatchee Bay Fishing Report, or Miramar Beach fishing report, look no further. Every week we bring you a report for those anglers interested in an Okaloosa Island fishing report and a Santa Rosa Beach fishing report and everywhere in between. For our guys looking for the Pensacola fishing report or the Navarre Fishing Report, we’ve got you covered.

It's all brought to you whether it's good, bad, or ugly. Please Subscribe, Rate, and review wherever you listen to podcasts, and don't forget to text the word “nwffr” to 779-345-2918  to get that AFTCO CAMO LENS CLEANER CLOTH  or click here to be added to our email list and we'll send you the new show each week! 

Important Links:

Sponsors

Fishbites

Dixie Supply and Baker Metal

Killerdock

Test Calibration

Coastal Connection EXP Realty

Great Days Outdoors

Hilton’s Realtime Navigator

Bucks Island Marine

Salts Gone

Shoreline Plastics

Saunders Yachtworks

East Pass Broadbill Open

Survival at Sea

Tohatsu

Pure Flats 

Southeastern Pond Management

Targeting deep fish with precision, out-catching bait with jigs, and dialing in your gear for serious slow pitch success—all in this week’s episode.

In this episode of the Northwest Florida Fishing Report, the crew is joined by Bill Falconer, host of the Mastering Rod Building podcast, for a deep dive into the art of slow pitch jigging. Originally developed in Japan for heavily pressured fisheries, this technique has proven highly effective along the Northern Gulf Coast—often outperforming traditional bait fishing. Bill and the hosts break down the specialized gear needed, from rods and reels to jigs and lines, along with practical tips on jig selection by depth, essential tools like split ring pliers and gloves, and the importance of mastering the right knots. Whether you're new to jigging or looking to refine your setup, this episode is packed with insights to level up your offshore game.

The Northwest Florida Fishing report is your best resource for the Destin Fishing Report, Panama City Fishing Report, Pensacola Fishing Report, Navarre Fishing Report, and everywhere in between.

For the anglers looking for a Destin Fishing Report, Ft. Walton Beach fishing report, Choctawhatchee Bay Fishing Report, or Miramar Beach fishing report, look no further. Every week we bring you a report for those anglers interested in an Okaloosa Island fishing report and a Santa Rosa Beach fishing report and everywhere in between. For our guys looking for the Pensacola fishing report or the Navarre Fishing Report, we’ve got you covered.

It's all brought to you whether it's good, bad, or ugly. Please Subscribe, Rate, and review wherever you listen to podcasts, and don't forget to text the word “nwffr” to 779-345-2918  to get that AFTCO CAMO LENS CLEANER CLOTH  or click here to be added to our email list and we'll send you the new show each week! 

Sponsors

Fishbites

Dixie Supply and Baker Metal

Killerdock

Test Calibration

Coastal Connection EXP Realty

Great Days Outdoors

Hilton’s Realtime Navigator

Bucks Island Marine

Salts Gone

Shoreline Plastics

Saunders Yachtworks

East Pass Broadbill Open

Survival at Sea

Tohatsu

Pure Flats 

Southeastern Pond Management

Wahoo on the Edge, Tournament Winning Redfish Sight Fishing Tips, and Distance-Casting Pompano in Rip Currents

This week we’re talking to Capt. Blake Nelson of Last Cast Charters we get into the weeds on sight fishing redfish. Blake and his son’s have won back to back tournaments and he breaks down what to look for in an area and how to fish it with artificials. Capt. Adam Peeples with One Shot Charters details how to focus on Wahoo in the blended green water and temp break that is near the edge of Destin right now. It’s a textbook on how to get it done. Justin Reed with Justin Reed Fishing follows up on the pompano predictions from last week, he gives some great tips for getting more distance out of your casts as well as fishing rip currents. You need to understand both to get the bite this week. 

The Northwest Florida Fishing report is your best resource for the Destin Fishing Report, Panama City Fishing Report, Pensacola Fishing Report, Navarre Fishing Report, and everywhere in between.

For the anglers looking for a Destin Fishing Report, Ft. Walton Beach fishing report, Choctawhatchee Bay Fishing Report, or Miramar Beach fishing report, look no further. Every week we bring you a report for those anglers interested in an Okaloosa Island fishing report and a Santa Rosa Beach fishing report and everywhere in between. For our guys looking for the Pensacola fishing report or the Navarre Fishing Report, we’ve got you covered.

It's all brought to you whether it's good, bad, or ugly. Please Subscribe, Rate, and review wherever you listen to podcasts, and don't forget to text the word “nwffr” to 779-345-2918  to get that AFTCO CAMO LENS CLEANER CLOTH  or click here to be added to our email list and we'll send you the new show each week! 

Sponsors

Fishbites

Dixie Supply and Baker Metal

Killerdock

Test Calibration

Coastal Connection EXP Realty

Great Days Outdoors

Hilton’s Realtime Navigator

Bucks Island Marine

Salts Gone

Shoreline Plastics

Saunders Yachtworks

East Pass Broadbill Open

Survival at Sea

Tohatsu

Pure Flats 

Southeastern Pond Management