Gulf of Mexico Fishing Report: Pompano, Whiting, and More Biting Strong Along the Panhandle

Artificial Lure here, bringing you the Gulf of Mexico, Florida fishing report for October 28th, 2025. We kicked off the morning in cool fall weather following the early cold fronts, which really has the bite going strong throughout panhandle and central gulf coast waters. Sunrise was at 7:02 AM and sunset hits at 6:06 PM, with mostly clear skies and a moderate breeze out of the northeast making for crisp, comfortable angling conditions. High tide rolled in around 3:53 AM, with low tide coming this afternoon at 4:24 PM. The tidal coefficient today is on the low side—34, so tidal movement isn’t extreme, but that just means you should focus efforts on those key changeover periods as the water moves in and out. Generally, the best luck this time of year comes around the edges of the tide windows and especially around sunrise and sunset. Recent fish activity is strong across the board. According to Coastal Angler Magazine’s latest, the first fronts of the season have brought pompano and whiting up close to the bars and troughs. Consistent action on croaker, bluefish, and plenty of sharks along the beaches continues. The surf is alive with flurries of jack crevalle and the occasional slot redfish, especially in clearer water or on the protected sides of sandbars. Captains from Mexico Beach to Saint Joseph Bay are reporting solid numbers—pompano limits hit early for boats working live sand fleas and Fishbites, while whiting are thick in the first trough and easy to find with lighter rigs. Surf and bay boats targeting deeper holes around the passes are picking up black drum and sheepshead as well. The best baits for today: fresh shrimp, sand fleas, and especially those Fishbites artificial scented strips—they’re working either alone or tipped alongside cut shrimp for pompano and whiting. For bluefish, sharks, and those bigger predators stalking baitfish, nothing beats fresh-cut mullet or menhaden. When working live bait, aim for the moving water near sandbars or the mouths of the bayous, and don’t overlook cut blue crab chunks for black drum and redfish. If you prefer artificial lures, go with pink or chartreuse jigs for pompano and trout, small silver spoons for bluefish and Spanish mackerel, and paddle-tail swimbaits rigged weedless for redfish in the shallow grass. Couple of reliable hot spots for you today: - **Mexico Beach – Near the town beach and the first sandbar, focus on irregular wave breaks and troughs, especially around high to falling tide.** - **Saint Joseph Bay – The grass flats and drop-offs just outside Eagle Harbor are on fire for speckled trout and slot reds right now.** - On the southwest coast, Redfish Pass at Captiva is quiet on boat traffic and loaded with slot reds and sheepshead hugging the structure and drifting shrimp or cut bait on the outgoing tide. Don’t forget: in clear water, lighter fluorocarbon leaders are key for whiting and pompano. When the surf’s cloudy, bump up to heavier mono and don’t be afraid to wor This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.