FLORIDA FEATURE ARTICLES : PENSACOLA

Fishing for Fun in Pensacola

Cast your line from a canoe surrounded by pines in the Blackwater State Forest, or spearfish for your supper off a sunken freighter in the Gulf. Florida sunshine, matched with plentiful bodies of freshwater and the dazzling Gulf of Mexico, make the Pensacola area a fishing paradise. The emerald Gulf waters provide hours of fishing pleasure with 120-pound cobia running less than a mile off the beach. Three popular bays - Pensacola Bay, Escambia Bay, and East Bay - provide ample quantities of flounder, speckled trout, and mullet.

No boat? No problem. A fleet of local charter boats is available for both walk-on and private charters. Troll for snapper or grouper, or fish deep waters for deep-sea marlin and sailfish. Sailboat rentals are also available on Santa Rosa Island and Perdido Key Beach.

Landlubbers won’t be left out of the action with plenty of pier, bridge, and beach fishing available. The Fort Pickens pier in the Gulf Islands National Seashore on Santa Rosa Island is a prime fishing spot. The Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier extends 1,471 feet and is the longest pier in the Gulf of Mexico. Along the shore, pompano and redfish are reeled in year-round.

Powerful lights for night fishing, on-site restrooms, and a nearby fishing camp store and picnic pavilions make fishing the 1.5-mile Pensacola Bay Fishing Bridge enjoyable and convenient. On the Gulf Breeze side of the bay, the Gulf Breeze Municipal Fishing Pier offers another 1.5 miles of excellent fishing.

Divers can spearfish off numerous artificial reefs, concrete pilings, and wrecks, including a favorite dive called “The Russian Freighter,” a Navy target ship 84 feet beneath the sea. With a well-established ecosystem, the freighter provides the spearfisher with plenty of grouper, snapper, amberjack, several varieties of lobster, and fascinating underwater sights. Local dive shops offer classes, charters, and gear.

The USS Massachusetts, one of the oldest existing American battleships, was commissioned in 1896 and today is an underwater archaeological preserve. The 350-foot hulk is awash in 26 feet of emerald-green water, partially buried in the white sandy bottom of the Gulf of Mexico, 1.5 miles south-southwest of Pensacola Pass, in the Fort Pickens State Aquatic Preserve.

Pensacola will soon be the site of the world’s largest artificial reef as the retired aircraft carrier, USS Oriskany, is laid to rest 22.5 miles southeast of the Pensacola Pass. At 888 feet in length, the “Mighty O” will become a fishing hot spot, giving anglers the chance to reel in popular game fish such as grouper, snapper, amberjack, and cobia. The site will also bring the possibility of trolling for fast running tuna, wahoo, and mahi mahi. The aircraft carrier arrived in Pensacola on Dec. 20, 2004 and is now berthed at the Port of Pensacola awaiting a reefing permit. Current plans call for the ship to be laid to rest late this summer. Prior to this event, a memorial service will be conducted at the National Museum of Naval Aviation to pay tribute to the crew and the ship that has provided exemplary service to our Navy and country.

But saltwater fishing is only half the story in Pensacola. Freshwater fishing doesn’t get any better than nearby Escambia River. This fourth largest river in Florida boasts 85 recorded species, the richest variety of North American freshwater fish of any Florida river, and includes game fish such as channel catfish and largemouth bass. Numerous local landings provide easy access.

Perdido River to the northwest, bordering Alabama, and the Blackwater River to the northeast near Milton are other favorite freshwater spots. Area tackle shops, specializing in freshwater fishing gear, provide information on contacting river guides.

For a more rustic fishing experience, head for the lakes of the Blackwater River State Forest. Bear Lake, in particular, is a 107-acre impoundment quite popular with local fishermen. There are two groups of 20 campsites, one of which has an electrical hookup. If you don’t need electricity, the eastern set of 20 is preferred, being located in a mature stand of longleaf pine and having an excellent view of the lake.

Active fishing associations in the area sponsor fishing rodeos and tournaments for both, family fun and competition. The Pensacola Recreational Fishermen’s Association broadcasts a bi-weekly television show to keep viewers informed on current fishing rules and regulations and provide up-to-date fishing reports.

Saltwater and freshwater fishing require two different licenses. The prices range from $6.50 to $31.50 for a temporary license. In general, licenses are required for non-resident fishing from land or from a structure fixed to land, and for anyone fishing from a private boat. Although most bridges, many state parks, and nearly all charters provide licensing with their fees, it’s a good idea to double-check before casting off.

Licenses are available at the county tax collector’s office, area tackle shops and sporting goods stores, or by calling 1-888-FISH-FLORIDA.





Photo: Visit Florida

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