ANGLERS IN OUR MIDST

A group displaying their red snapper haul caught with Can’t Quit Fishin’ charters

Local Charter Fishing Options Abound

By Emily Echevarria

Pensacola’s proximity to the Gulf of Mexico offers plentiful opportunities for seaside recreation, from splashing on the beach to paddleboarding along the shoreline. Venturing a little farther beyond the crashing waves opens yet another world of water recreation, along with a seafood feast to commemorate the journey. For those that crave the unique experience of harvesting the fruits of the sea, the local charter fishing offerings have all the knowledge and equipment necessary so guests can focus on the fishing and fun.

Anglers looking to bring home some fresh catch have many options along the Gulf Coast, and types of charters vary. There are bigger “head boats” or “party boats,” larger vessels that can take out multiple groups and often have amenities like air conditioning, bathrooms and even bunks where guests can lie down during a longer trip offshore or for overnight trips. Smaller vessels are great for private groups, usually around six people, where a captain and possibly a deckhand can offer a little more personal attention to each angler. On either type of trip, captains take care of all the necessary equipment and share their knowledge of the local waterways and what’s biting. Early summer on the water is ruled by red snapper. This year’s season runs June 4 to July 28 and brings anglers from all around to the Gulf Coast, which is known as the “Red Snapper Capital of the World” (though whether Pensacola or Orange Beach currently deserve to hold the title is up for debate among area captains).

“You can catch red snapper up here in the bay by the Three Mile Bridge,” local charter captain James Pfeiffer said. “They’re pretty bountiful and [with] the regulations they’ve put on them for the last several years, they’ve gotten more plentiful, so they’re pretty abundant everywhere you go.”

“At the turn of the century, Pensacola was known as the red snapper capital of the world. We have that reputation, but what people don’t realize is that there are a lot of other species of fish that you can catch when you go charter fishing...”

Capt. Willie Pitts Pfeiffer, who owns Can’t Quit Fishin’ Charters, has been fishing local waters for more than 30 years, having grown up in East Hill and fished Bayou Texar throughout his formative years. He says he enjoys sharing his extensive knowledge of the local waterways as well as Pensacola landmarks and history. His vessel, a 24-foot open fishing boat, offers inshore or offshore private fishing trips for up to six people.

Something area charter captains share is a reverence for the local natural resources and ecosystems and the varied wildlife that call them home.

“For a lot of the fishing trips, it’s not just about the fish – we see dolphins, sea turtles and a lot of bird life,” Pfeiffer said. “When we clean fish back at the dock, there’s always a group of pelicans waiting to eat the scraps. There’s always a blue heron walking down the dock.”

William (Willie) Pitts, of Fish House Charters, LLC., agrees with that sentiment. He runs a private charter boat, which he has captained for six years. Pitts explained that he loves that there’s always something new to see and show to clients on his boat, whether it’s a king mackerel leaping out of the water, a spotted eagle ray swimming serenely near the boat or something else unique to Pensacola.

“There’s always something to see if you keep your eyes on the water,” Pitts said. “There’s always something incredible. The Blue Angels never get old, the incredibly large amount of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins never get old – unless they’re stealing your fish.” Pitts said one dolphin, known by locals as “Half-tail,” is popular for surfacing near boats after a catch too small to keep gets hooked, hoping for a handout. This detailed knowledge and experience of local wildlife is garnered from the hours spent exploring the area’s waterways and the life teeming within it.

While the months designated for red snapper season bring fishing enthusiasts from across the country, the area waters are home to a variety of fish species that offer good fishing and good eating.

“I definitely try to push red snapper because it’s been so popular but I also try to push other fishing as well,” Orange Beachbased charter captain Sara Griffin said. “There’s plenty of other reef fish that are just as fun to catch and good to eat as well.”

Griffin captains the Summer Hunter, and while she’s based in Orange Beach, she’s licensed to fish in Florida and Alabama state waters. She says her trips are family friendly and tailored to meet the interests of the groups she takes out on private trips, including experience serving groups with special needs.

“At the turn of the century, Pensacola was known as the red snapper capital of the world. We have that reputation, but what people don’t realize is that there are a lot of other species of fish that you can catch when you go charter fishing,” local charter captain Dale Perkins explained. “There are different species of snapper: white snapper, vermillion snapper, lane snapper and black snapper. There’s grouper, amberjack, pelagic species like

king mackerel, occasionally a sailfish, bonito and just tons and tons of species.” Perkins has been a captain for 24 years and is at the head of the Pensacola Beach-based boat, The Chulamar, known for walk-on trips, where anyone can pay the fee and join other groups on the amenity-packed vessel for a fishing trip. Perkins says the boat boasts air-conditioning, bathrooms and TV, among other creature comforts. It can hold up to 54 people but a typical trip is closer to 20 people. Perkins grew up fishing for bass in Louisiana and after hooking and losing a big cobia off the Pensacola pier at age 13, he knew he was destined to a future of saltwater fishing.

With so much to catch, one of the many benefits that comes with a charter fishing trip is that the captain or deckhands will clean the fish and send you home with filets ready to go in the pan or into the freezer. They can even direct you to local restaurants like Peg Leg Pete’s, Crabs or Paradise Bar & Grill that will prepare your fresh catch for you and serve it with sides.

For those looking to get on the water for a fishing trip, don’t rule out the seasons outside the traditional tourist time. Red snapper season gets a lot of attention, but many charter captains say their favorite time of year to fish is in the cooler fall months when temperatures begin to drop but the fish continue to bite.

“That time of year from August through November is the peak of the growing season and when a lot of fish and wildlife are very healthy,” Pitts explained. “Crabs are exploding with meat, and there’s tons of phytoplankton that begin to die off in October.”

The fish may be the stars of the show on a charter fishing trip, but what captains really want guests to leave with is a great experience on the Gulf Coast waters.

“Most of the time people say, ‘oh my gosh, that was the biggest fish I ever caught!’ That’s my favorite thing to hear. Or the fact that, sometimes with the reef fish, you can catch one after the other and people say, ‘I’ve never caught that many fish.’ I just hope for them to have an experience and enjoy it and want to do it again.”

“The thing I like about charter fishing is people are going out, they’re having a good time, they’re usually with family or friends and we’re creating memories that will last forever,” Perkins said. “It’s a really nice thing to do to create memories and help people have the time of their life.” •

LOCAL CHARTER BOATS/CAPTAINS

Sara Griffin Summer Hunter Fishing Charters - Orange Beach, Ala. summerhunterfishing.com 251.213.6087

Dale Perkins Chulamar Charters (large groups) Chulamar.com 850.934.8037 | 850.492.1099

James Pfeiffer Can’t Quit Fishin’ Charters Cantquitfishin.com 850.380.9600

William (Willie) Pitts Fish House Charters 850.449.0528

Pensacola Beach Marina Charters Pensacolabeachmarinacharters.com Various captains and boats; large and private 850.607.0573 or 850.932.0304

Tradition Fishing Charters Traditionfishingcharters.com 850.324.4464