Fishing Pensacola Beach

Surf Fishing Pensacola Beach

Surf fishing on Pensacola Beach is an every day affair for those of us that live in the area, but the spring, summer and fall months are when you will see the most rods lined up along the waters edge.  This is due to a combination of there being far more visitors this time of year, and also because there are more species available in the area.  Winter months provide great fishing for surf and pier anglers on Pensacola Beach, but there is a larger variety of migratory species lined up along the surf due to the warmer water temperatures in late spring, summer, and fall. For more information on what's biting when, you can read our seasonal and month to month breakdown on our Pensacola Beach Surf Fishing Calendar.

Bluefish may not be on everyone's dinner menu, but they put up an awesome fight and bite aggressively.

Fishing Pensacola Beach Pier

At almost 1500 feet long, the Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier gets you past both sand bars and provides access to much deeper water than anglers are able to reach from the surf.  Getting into the deeper water allows pier anglers to target additional species compared to those on the beach. Fish such as King Mackerel, Cobia, Bonito and even Tarpon or Mahi-Mahi can be reached from the pier as well as all other species that can be targeted from the surf such as Pompano, Whiting, Redfish, etc.  In addition to the extended reach, the pier also provides great views of the marine life from above.  Surprisingly large sharks, rays, dolphins and manatees can easily be spotted from the pier.

Giant Black Drum can be caught from the surf or pier, especially when the water is cooler in fall, winter and spring.

For those just visiting the area or wanting to try fishing from the pier for the first time, rods can be rented right at the bait shop at the base of the pier, and anglers do not need a fishing license while fishing from the pier. Additionally, just about everything you need to spend a few hours on the pier can be bought right at the bait shop as well.  Rigs and bait, such as squid, shrimp, sand flees, as well as frozen cigar minnows can be purchased right at the shop as well.

Prices change yearly, but in general anglers can pay for a day pass, rent a rod, and buy rigs and bait for around 30 dollars. Beverages are also sold right at the shop as well. If you have access to a vehicle, Gulf Breeze Bait and Tackle is just over the bridge in Gulf Breeze and provides a full lineup of fishing gear and bait.

When To Fish Pensacola Beach

During the busy times of year such as spring break, summer break, and early fall before school starts it's best to fish as early as possible and claim your spot. When fishing the surf, we usually put the poles away once the crowds start to take over during mid morning. Pier anglers can have luck throughout the entire day as most swimmers stay clear of the pier. During late Fall, Winter, and Spring when it isn't so busy it's often better to time your trips with the tides, since the both the pier and beach aren't so crowded it should be easy enough to find a spot to fish any time of the day, and larger fish will be closer in during the incoming and outgoing portions of high tide. This is especially true if you're targeting sharks, big or small.

Some of the best times to fish are during the spring Pompano run that generally occurs in late March through April, and during the summer when fish such as Spanish Mackerel will be schooling up and feeding aggressively. For tips on catching these fish, you can read How to Catch Pompano From the Surf and How to Catch Spanish Mackerel from the Surf.