Pensacola fishing report for the week of October 8, 2026. Fall brings the flounder run, the bull reds, and the pompano along the beaches. A new moon this weekend should improve the bite.
What’s Hitting
Bull redfish are staging in Pensacola Pass and along the beaches, feeding on mullet and menhaden. The flounder run is starting, with fish moving from the bays toward the Gulf through the pass and the bridges. Pompano are along the surf, Spanish mackerel and bluefish are hitting at the pier, and speckled trout are in the bays. King mackerel are still around the nearshore reefs.
Where to Find Them
Fish the Pensacola Pass and the Fort Pickens area for bull reds on the moving tide. The bridges and pilings in Pensacola Bay hold flounder and sheepshead. Navarre Beach and the Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier are good for pompano, whiting and mackerel. The bays, such as Escambia Bay and East Bay, hold trout and slot reds.
Tides & Conditions
The new moon this weekend means stronger tides. The pass will run hard, and fish will gather at the edges and the structure. Northerly wind from an early cold front can lay down the surf and also push fish toward the passes, so watch the forecast for the first front of the season.
Tackle & Tactics
For bull reds, use cut mullet or a live menhaden on a fish-finder rig. For flounder, a Gulp minnow on a jig head or a live finger mullet works around the bridges. Pompano take sand fleas or a small jig bounced along the bottom. In the bays, live shrimp under a popping cork works for trout.
If the pass is too rough, Perdido Bay and Big Lagoon offer protected water for trout and slot reds. These areas are good fallback options when the Gulf is rough and the wind is up.
Local Intel This Week
Public access includes the Bayou Chico boat ramp, the Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier, Fort Pickens and the Pensacola Pass, and Navarre Beach. Fish are concentrating around the pass, the bridges and the beaches. Check current FWC regulations and seasons before keeping any fish, as the flounder and redfish rules apply.
This Week’s Tip
Slow down on flounder. Bounce the bait along the bottom with long pauses, and when you feel a tap, wait a second before setting the hook.
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