This blog features photography from a recent late morning September kayak fishing trip in Bayou Chico near downtown Pensacola, Florida. The wind was coming out of the East and the water was moving out of the bayou. My strategy for the day was to find calm water that was off from the living current. This meant I was usually casting against the wind because I wanted to mimic bait fish that was swimming with the current. I was using a pearl Z-Man 4" paddle tail and a Z-Man 4" sexy penny minnowz. I typically use a white colored paddle tail in the clear water but decided to use the sexy penny as well because the bigger fish I have been catching lately have been on that swimbait. I typically use 8lb and 10lb leader but this trip I tied on 14lb leader as I have been catching blue fish in the bayou and they have been breaking my line. It seems the blue fish move into the bayou in August.

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Normally I fish one side of the Barrancas Avenue bridge, but this trip I fished most of the bayou because I wanted to get a good day of fishing in before Hurricane Sally arrived. As I mentioned earlier I was looking for spots and points that had somewhat still water as this is typically where ambush predators will wait for bait. This would be behind docks, sailboats, and points in the bayou.  

Pensacola Inshore Fishing PhotographyA shrimp boat enters the mouth of Bayou Chico in Pensacola, Florida. Pensacola Inshore Fishing PhotographyUnder the Barrancas Ave bridge at Bayou Chico in Pensacola, Florida. Pensacola Inshore Fishing PhotographyPiers and boats in Bayou Chico at Pensacola, Florida.

It wasn't a steady bite but I managed to catch five speckled trout and one blue fish for the morning. I did spot two huge black drum but couldn't get them to bite.

Pensacola Inshore Fishing PhotographySpeckled trout caught at Bayou Chico in Pensacola, Florida. Pensacola Inshore Fishing PhotographySpeckled trout caught at Bayou Chico in Pensacola, Florida. Pensacola Inshore Fishing PhotographyBlue fish caught at Bayou Chico in Pensacola, Florida. Pensacola Inshore Fishing PhotographyBlue fish caught at Bayou Chico in Pensacola, Florida. Pensacola Inshore Fishing PhotographyBlue fish caught at Bayou Chico in Pensacola, Florida. Pensacola Inshore Fishing PhotographySpeckled trout caught at Bayou Chico in Pensacola, Florida. Pensacola Inshore Fishing PhotographySpeckled trout caught at Bayou Chico in Pensacola, Florida. Pensacola Inshore Fishing PhotographySpeckled trout caught at Bayou Chico in Pensacola, Florida. Pensacola Inshore Fishing PhotographySpeckled trout caught at Bayou Chico in Pensacola, Florida.

I am always encouraged when I see an apex predator like an osprey in an area where I am fishing. This means there are fish in the area. However, I was saddened to see the amount of trash that is around the bayou so did a little clean up as well.

Pensacola Inshore Fishing PhotographyAn osprey at Bayou Chico in Pensacola, Florida. Pensacola Inshore Fishing PhotographyAn osprey at Bayou Chico in Pensacola, Florida. Pensacola Inshore Fishing PhotographyAn osprey at Bayou Chico in Pensacola, Florida. Pensacola Inshore Fishing PhotographyTrash cleanup at Bayou Chico.