Pensacola Fishing Report – Red Snapper, Vermilion Snapper, Lane Snapper, Red Porgy, Banded Rudderfish, Almaco Jack, Red and Snowy Grouper, Triggerfish and a gorgeous Cobia | Week Ending 07/26/2026 – State and Federal Waters
Deep Sea and Offshore Fishing Charter Pensacola
Back Offshore After Tropical Storm Bertha
After losing the previous fishing week to the tropical system that became Bertha, Double D Fishing Charters was finally able to return to the Gulf for two trips: one 6-hour charter and one 8-hour charter. The post-storm conditions gave us the opportunity to get back to deep sea and offshore fishing, and both trips produced a wide variety of fish and nice boxes to bring back to Pensacola.
Both trips this week were offshore charters. We did not run a separate inshore or nearshore trip during the reporting period, so this Pensacola fishing report is centered on the deep sea action that followed Bertha and the variety the Gulf provided once conditions allowed us to safely get back out.
Grouper Headline the Week
Grouper were one of the biggest parts of the catch. Across the two charters, we caught about a dozen red grouper and added our first-ever snowy grouper aboard Double D Fishing Charters. The snowy was not the largest grouper we put in the box, but it was one of the most memorable fish of the week.
Every new species still gets us excited. That snowy grouper moved us another step closer to having caught 80 different species aboard the boat, and that accomplishment put a big smile on our faces. We are always in awe of what the Gulf provides, whether the fish is a personal best, a great table fish, or simply a species we have never welcomed aboard before.
A Wide Mixed-Bag Catch
The two charters produced much more than grouper. The catch also included red porgy, amberjack, banded rudderfish, almaco jack, vermilion snapper, lane snapper, and red snapper. That mix is a good example of why Pensacola offshore fishing can be so interesting: each stop and each drop can produce something different.
One of the standout fish was a beautiful 38-inch cobia. Along with the grouper, snapper, porgy, and jacks, the cobia helped round out two productive trips and two nice fish boxes. After the disruption caused by Bertha, it was especially rewarding to return to the dock with quality fish and plenty of variety.
Cut Bait and Artificials Both Produce
We used both cut bait and artificial presentations on the 6-hour and 8-hour charters, and both methods caught fish. Having more than one productive approach allowed us to adjust to the species, depth, and bite as the day developed rather than depending on a single technique.
That flexibility matters on a mixed-bag offshore trip. Some fish respond best to a natural presentation, while others are willing to strike an artificial worked through the water column. Using both helped keep rods bent and contributed to the variety that came aboard during the two post-Bertha trips.
Looking Ahead
The first two charters following Bertha were a strong return to the Gulf. A dozen red grouper, our first snowy grouper, a 38-inch cobia, several snapper species, porgy, amberjack, banded rudderfish, and almaco jack made for a memorable week after weather had kept us tied to the dock.
We never take a productive day offshore for granted. The Gulf is always capable of surprising us, and discovering another new species is part of what keeps us excited about every trip. We look forward to seeing what the next Pensacola deep sea, offshore, or inshore fishing charter brings.
– Captain Paul & Captain Eric
Double D Fishing Charters
Inshore Fishing Charter Pensacola
Nothing to report inshore for the week as we made no trips.
To see pictures of some of our catches, visit our social media pages:
