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Capt. Larry Pentel
September 12, 2011
Destin - Saltwater Fishing Report
Right after my last report we got hit with Tropical Storm Lee. I think I got 1 trip in and then the wind and swell started picking up... and up and up. While it was nice to get some much needed rain there were a whole bunch of folks who really didn't want it on the Labor Day weekend holiday. Labor Day, Monday a week ago, had the surf as big as it gets and lots of squalls. One storm in the afternoon had sustained winds of 70 knots for almost 10 minutes. This some 30 hours afters the National Weather Service quit giving updates on the storm "as it was no longer strong enough to be deemed a tropical storm " . Oh well-- the weather service is another branch of NOAA- the same folks that brought us the current Red Snapper rules.... I guess we should be glad they get the forecast with the storms better than the status of fish stocks.
As is the norm, since the storm went North the weather and beach have been absolutely beautiful. Light North winds, crystal clear water (the storm "disappeared" the June grass), the air temp has dropped at least 10 degrees and the beach is clean and flat. As is also the norm the weather shuffled up the fish and moved everything around a bit. I got to run 5 trips since it calmed down and this is what we found.
The first fish check after the storm- Plenty of Red Snappers and other critters that still get to eat 'em !
Still Snappers around but maybe not as many. There seems to have been a pretty good movement of gag (black ) grouper to the area - should be great for us when the season opens on Friday !
I had a couple folks who "just want to catch good fish- release 'em all: so we went grouper fishing---
I mean Grouper catching
These 2 Anglers landed 15 gags on a 4 hr trip--- about a dozen Snappers and got schooled by a few BIG Groupers as well !
The Amberjacks and the Kings have both got blown somewhere else other than up inside 100 ft of water. The kings I'm sure will be back within a week or so, probably hotter than before. The Aj's may stay offshore with the water starting to cool.
There are still lots of Vermilion Snappers out past 85 feet-- They may be small but boy they eat good ! The Triggers are still here too, they should really start to show up thick soon with the temp cooling a little
These folks had a pile of Vermillions
While they got a pile of Triggers !
Plenty to catch though I imagine the Gulf will be pretty empty of boats till the end of week when gag Grouper open. We have sure thrown a bunch back this summer. I guess the Dolphins have more pull with NOAA than the fisherman "cause they sure have been eating good all summer !
Nobody out but us-- with a great mix of fish !
Tie up some leaders, sharpen some hooks and put new line on a couple reels-- I'll see you on a grouper hole this weekend !
capt Larry Pentel
Deadfish
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