We set out early Friday morning ((4 am ) my wife and i loaded up the Ford excursion and we picked up Jimmy (Jimbo's son) and headed west on I-75 to pick up another shark club member Solliman Pizzaro and his son Junior in Tampa and continue north to Pensacola for some exploratory fishing in an area that has always been on my list of places to yet to shark fish in the state of Florida.Suffice to say it was a learning expierience on not venturing too far from sunny south Florida when winter arrives or a cold front has crept in your fishing spot.We got to Pensacola late Friday night and the plan was to fish the Pensacola Beach Gulf pier early the next morning catch some fresh bonita and yak them out on a nearby beach.
The wife and i
The boys and i at the Hotel in Pensacola
Saturday morning on the Pensacola Beach Gulf pier and the temps were hovering around 40 degree with a 15-20 mph wind blowing
Not many patrons fishing on this freezing cold morning
The cold artic blast was freezing our faces
We were unprepared for the bitter cold and our Friend Sollimon went and bought us some gloves and thermals to withstand the severe conditions.
The report was that the water was too murky and the bonita were not showing up in numbers yet because the rough water the last couple of days was not favorable for the bonita blitz.The morning cold was brutal but we figured we were here to fish by golly we're gonna fish one way or another :we did'nt drive 650 miles to sit in a hotel room and watch tv.
Sollimon's son was not able to take the cold for long and returned to the hotel room after a short time.
One of the few bonitas that were caught on this cold morning.There were two red drums caught on the pier and not much more then that.As we arrived on the pier on Saturday morning the Guys from the Georgia -Shark Fishing site (Nick) and friends were leaving to fish the beach.
WE hit the beach around 3 pm with less then favorable conditions.
The young buck was doing the yakking on this day
It was not too choppy the first day on the beach
Jimmy earned his keep on this day.
Nick and his buddy from the Georgia shark fishing website came by to say hello
Sunset was spectacular but it started getting very cold very fast
On the beach with three rods out and waiting for the hit that never came.
Later that night i went back to the hotel by 12 midnight but Sollimon and Jimmy wanted to stay all night if i brought them beer while they watched the rods ,so i got it for them and that turned out to be a mistake because the wind picked up and the rain started a few hours after i left the beach,and the next morning when i went to pick them up it was truly brutal conditions on that beach.This was some of nastiest weather we've ever had to deal with but it was well worth it .We had a good time despite not getting one single bite the entire time.Pensacola was just what i thought it was going to be a slice of old Florida,quiet,clean with warm friendly people ,defenetly a place that i would,nt mind calling home some day. ,it was a beatiful place and we will defenetly be back to fish the endless miles of beatiful pristine beaches next spring and summer.
That beach was a wet, cold.miserable rainy place to spend the night.Thank God i left them both my small dome tents to keep them warm and out of the rain.We,re paying our dues putting in our time and it's all well worth it.My Ford Excursion has 1500 more miles on it but the cheaper gas prices makes it a reality easier to deal with.
SOUTH FLORIDA SHARK CLUB -President SFSC-Founding Member est 1983 SFSC-Website Administrator BIG HAMMER SHARK TOURNAMENT -Founder Rene Memorial Sharkathon -Founder NMFS Shark Tagger
nice looking beach will yall are going to be fully intune come time for the hammer turny good luck and keep up the shark woopen
WILL I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO BEEN THERE WITH YOU AND JIMMY AND SOLAMAN. THE PLACE WAS PENACOLOA BEACH AND PIER. NEXT SPRING WE WILL ALL TAKE A RIDE UP THERE AND FISH FOR SHARK FROM THE BEACH. LOVE THE PIC. IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS COLD.I DON"T LIKE THE COLD AND NEITHER DO MOST FLA SHARK. BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS WORHT THE TRIP FROM THE PIC YOU TOOK.
Sorry we missed you guys. I was hoping to meet up with everyone. We were the guys with all the light sticks running out of the back of the truck to the beach. 
Hopefully we can plan another trip when the weather is better and all meet up to share info, techniques etc.
We had one run right at sunset -- no hookup.
LaSharkHunter
Here is Railroaders Report!
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Well, set right back and I'll tell you a tale. I am gonna give the Reader's Digest condensed version of this thing, because I'm just flat out beat. It went a little something like this...
The weather sucked. Cold, and constantly blowing like hell, from all points of the compass at one time or another. Never once did the water clear up good, or did the wind die down. It just shifted, and blew...This guy pretty much sums up the feeling...
The object of the trip was Sharks and Bonito. We struck out on that, despite our best efforts. Luckily, the Catfish, Blues, and Big Reds were co-operative, and we racked up a good number of these.
The pier is great, as nice a place as I ever saw. It's a lot like Jacksonville's, only bigger, and the people there fish funny. If you are not tossing a Van Stall, on a light rod (preferably custom), with a little bucktail of some kind, then you are fishing wrong. We were the Googans of this trip... 
We were recieved quite cooly, by the locals, but after some good natured banter, and shooting of the bull, we were eating lunch with them on the second day. They were just like us, a great bunch of guys, once you get to know them a little bit.
On to the fishing.
Friday was spent at the pier. We all caught fish, but it was mostly Cats. A Blue or two, Nick got a Big Red, and that was about it. Dinner was at Pegleg Pete's, and it was OK...Pretty Touristy, and the food, well, it was OK. Back to the pier for the night shift, and another Big Red or two. Pier Man ran us off at 2200.
Saturday we started at the pier, but quickly decided to head for the beach, and try for the Sharks. We met up with Troy and Travis, who had been on the beach since Sun-up. All together we deployed about six or eight 'yakked baits, and nothing turned a click, to my knowledge.
Conditions were AWFUL. Rough surf, strong current, cold, and NO fish. I made the calculated decision to just leave my big guns in the truck, assist the others, and see what happened. Nothing did.
It was nice meeting the Louisiana Boys, and I hope to get a chance to fish with y'all again, under MUCH better conditions.
Me an Aaron went back to town to get lunch, and check out the pier. We ended up all ganged back up on the pier, and it was more Big Reds, and more Catfish.
Here's the only fish I caught, besides Cats...
And Aaron's only Non-Cat..
Saturday night...Come supper-time, we went to Sidelines, which is an EXCELLENT place, with the best wings on the planet.
We had WAY too good of a time, and spent Sunday paying for it...Ray was the only one who showed any restraint Saturday night, and was the only one to fish on Sunday. This was the worst weather day of the week-end, but he got another Big Red.
Monday morning, we packed up and headed home.
A whole lotta fun, a few good fish, 732 miles round trip, and a great time had by all.
Next time I want to fish the Panhandle, I'm saving three hours on the trip... 
I'll add some more pics, as they come in....
William,
You guys are as hard core as they come! Pictures look great!
Deaver
Nice report Will and great pics...You guys got a bar of experience on your sharking uniforms, just that was worth the drive. It could have been epic...Props on the efforts!
Good luck fishing!
that blow was cold!...we fished in it and Man!...nice effort tho...mike