Spring 2025 Fishing Report – Emerald Coast Captain Jack Whaley | Grocery Gettin’ Charters, LLC The season is off to an absolutely incredible start! This spring has been one of the best in recent memory. With rising temperatures, calm seas, and warming Gulf waters, everything is aligning for a fantastic fishing season. Conditions have been ideal, and the fish are biting consistently across the board. Whether we’re staying close to shore or heading offshore, every trip has been productive and exciting for our clients. Inshore fishing has been on fire. Spanish Mackerel and King Mackerel have been cruising right along the beaches, especially during the early morning hours. These fish are hitting both artificial lures and live bait. Light tackle makes the fight even more exciting, and we've had plenty of double and even triple hook-ups. Offshore action has been just as rewarding. We’ve seen large pods of baitfish such as: cigar minnows, threadfin herring, and speedos gathering around the bayous in St. Andrews Pass and just off the beaches. These bait schools have been magnets for highly sought-after pelagic species, including Mahi, Wahoo, and Tripletail. The presence of Sargassum weed lines is growing offshore. These weed lines allow us to troll and sight-cast with great success, particularly when targeting Mahi. Clients have had a blast reeling them in, Mahi are not only beautiful with their vibrant blues and greens, but they’re known for jumping out of the water once hooked and their schooling behavior. Bottom fishing is holding strong, with hungry Triggerfish, Vermilion Snapper, Mangrove Snapper, and some impressive Grouper hanging around the reefs. Even with harvesting regulations in place, we’re seeing plenty of action and variety. Most trips see clients limiting out early, which gives us the opportunity to head farther offshore to give the clients the experience of fighting the bigger fish. Amberjack and Red Snapper always provided a memorable fight. Watching clients battle these giants is always a highlight of the season. For an exciting announcement, Red Snapper season is the longest ever recorded since regulations began with 126 days! June and July will be prime months, and we’re gearing up for non-stop action. As we roll into summer, we expect conditions to only improve. With more fishable days and the beautiful waters of the Emerald Coast as our playground, our mission remains the same: send every client home with big smiles, great memories, and a cooler full of groceries! Tight lines, Captain Jack Whaley