About Escambia Bay, FL

Escambia Bay spans two counties- Santa Rosa and Escambia. The bay is connected to the open waters through Pensacola Bay to its southeast and is primarily fed by the Escambia River. The depth in the bay shoal is at 15 feet at the mouth and gradually shallows to 7 feet in the upper reaches. 

Escambia Bay is divided into upper and lower parts with interstate 10 delineating the boundary, which was damaged by a storm surge during Hurricane Ivan in September 2004. Today, Interstate 10 is currently carried by the David Bogan Bridge over the bay.  The upper part of Escambia bay is classified as a class III marine water body, which means that it is protected for recreation, propagation, and maintenance of a healthy, well-balanced population of fish and wildlife. While the rest of the bay is considered to be a class II marine water body and is designated to be used for shellfish propagation and harvesting.   

All About Fishing in Escambia Bay, FL

Escambia Bay is located just 4 miles from Pace and is part of the Pensacola Bay System. It is divided into two segments with varying ecosystems. The upper portion of Escambia Bay contains mostly water celery and a few patches of wigeon grass. While the lower portion has lost a significant amount of seagrass except in areas in the upper East Bay. However, the bay has still remained to be an area home to different species of fish. Because of the waters contributing to the bay, it is considered home to numerous species such as catfish, snook, black drum, redfish, spotted sea trout, crappie, Mahi-Mahi, gag grouper, sheepshead, mangrove snapper, and flounder. These species thrive, especially in the upper Escambia Bay as these species of fish use the abundant number of water celery to protect them from sunlight and hide from predators lurking around the bay. 

According to local anglers, fishing in the upper Escambia Bay yields a good amount of produce. The southeast region is also a notable spot to fish, especially the area nearing Pensacola Bay. While inshore fishing is a thing in Escambia bay, anglers may still be able to catch fish that are close to the shore, though not common. This is because the real angling action happens in the deeper parts of the bay.

Because Escambia Bay belongs to Pensacola Bay Systems, fishing in the area is more likely the same.

 Spinning, trolling, and baitcasting are the most common fishing techniques used by anglers in the area. For first-time anglers in the area, it is advisable to use only top-quality baits and spinners. Baits that are most effective are the artificial baits that resemble and imitate baitfish natural to the area. However, if you are on a night-angling trip, it is important to use fishing lights to illuminate your baits to attract your targets. 

Fishing Seasonality

Fishing in Esacmabi Bay is possible year-round, though its peak season falls during the summer months. Though other months of the year are a productive catch for some fish species too. January is a great time to target different species of groupers as they dwell in the nearshore area of the bay. Flounder and trout, on the other hand, are abundant during this month when fishing in the deeper areas of the bay. February is the month of snapper, especially vermilion and mangrove snapper. March is great for inshore fishing, especially if you wish to target species like black drum, redfish, and spotted seatrout. April is the month of mackerel and cobias and as it gets warmer, mahi-mahi, jack crevalle, and wahoo heat out to the Gulf and pass through the bay. June and July are for red snappers, come August, tuna, and sailfish become a common target.

Beginning the month of October to the month of November, fishing moves into the shallower part of the bay as snappers and groupers become an easy catch and target inshore. Come December, redfish, sheepshead, black drum, and flounder surfaces make them an easy catch. 

Fishing Seasonality

Fishing in Esacmabi Bay is possible year-round, though its peak season falls during the summer months. Though other months of the year are a productive catch for some fish species too. January is a great time to target different species of groupers as they dwell in the nearshore area of the bay. Flounder and trout, on the other hand, are abundant during this month when fishing in the deeper areas of the bay. February is the month of snapper, especially vermilion and mangrove snapper. March is great for inshore fishing, especially if you wish to target species like black drum, redfish, and spotted seatrout. April is the month of mackerel and cobias and as it gets warmer, mahi-mahi, jack crevalle, and wahoo heat out to the Gulf and pass through the bay. June and July are for red snappers, come August, tuna, and sailfish become a common target.

Beginning the month of October to the month of November, fishing moves into the shallower part of the bay as snappers and groupers become an easy catch and target inshore. Come December, redfish, sheepshead, black drum, and flounder surfaces make them an easy catch. 

All About Fishing in Escambia Bay, FL

Escambia Bay is located just 4 miles from Pace and is part of the Pensacola Bay System. It is divided into two segments with varying ecosystems. The upper portion of Escambia Bay contains mostly water celery and a few patches of wigeon grass. While the lower portion has lost a significant amount of seagrass except in areas in the upper East Bay. However, the bay has still remained to be an area home to different species of fish. Because of the waters contributing to the bay, it is considered home to numerous species such as catfish, snook, black drum, redfish, spotted sea trout, crappie, Mahi-Mahi, gag grouper, sheepshead, mangrove snapper, and flounder. These species thrive, especially in the upper Escambia Bay as these species of fish use the abundant number of water celery to protect them from sunlight and hide from predators lurking around the bay. 

According to local anglers, fishing in the upper Escambia Bay yields a good amount of produce. The southeast region is also a notable spot to fish, especially the area nearing Pensacola Bay. While inshore fishing is a thing in Escambia bay, anglers may still be able to catch fish that are close to the shore, though not common. This is because the real angling action happens in the deeper parts of the bay.

Because Escambia Bay belongs to Pensacola Bay Systems, fishing in the area is more likely the same.

 Spinning, trolling, and baitcasting are the most common fishing techniques used by anglers in the area. For first-time anglers in the area, it is advisable to use only top-quality baits and spinners. Baits that are most effective are the artificial baits that resemble and imitate baitfish natural to the area. However, if you are on a night-angling trip, it is important to use fishing lights to illuminate your baits to attract your targets.