"I have not yet begun to flounder ! "
Capt. Larry Pentel
November 12, 2013
Destin - Saltwater Fishing Report
The fall fishin' pattern continues with just about every thing you could want to catch running hard and chewing fast. I ran a few trips this past week where we got to chase the Flounders a bit and looks like it will be a banner year for the tasty flatfish. While they are not stacked up on every inshore spot I checked there were some fish on every spot and bunches on some. I had a group of guys on Friday & Saturday who have come down the past couple Falls but hadn't chased Flounders before. Friday morning was blustery and cool with the breeze from the North so I suggested we stay up in close at first and give the flatties a try. Once they figured out the finese tricks of light tackle fishing they put 28 nice Flounders in the box. The wind backed off an hour before we were to go in so they asked to run a little further out to bottom fish a bit and got rewarded with a fine Grouper, some Triggers a Jack and King as well.
Lots more Flounder in the box !
The next day they asked to do something different and said "that King sure was fun, can we catch some more of those" . Not only did we catch some fine Kings ( went 7 for 13) but landed 5 Mahi and jumped off a few more as well as getting 7 Jacks and a big Black Snapper.
Mahi on the Beach !
The next day I broke my rule and took 5 guys but it was a long time regular on a beautiful calm Fall day with lightweight guys. We started out Floundering and got 15 in the box and decided to troll a bit to change up. What a great bite ! Five more Mahi and some Kings as well, we finished off the morning 4 hour with a pile of amberines.
Lots of fish cleaning !
Yesterday I took a couple locals. Jeff, a regular on the beach coined the " I have not yet begun to Flounder" quote last year the first time he had ever actually "fished" for flounder. "I thought you had to stay up all night, stab 'em with a stick and get wet and cold"....When we had our Flounder limit we went and found even more Mahis' and Kings.
When they quit flounderin' around they got these too.
The rest of the box.
The first "real" cold front of the year is coming thru as I type this. Gale force winds forcast for tonight and probably no fishing in the gulf for a few days. The Flounders will still be there when it calms down and should stay till Christmas time. Last year we were still catching 'em into Jan. The Kings are usually around through Thanksgiving, The grouper bite is good and Gags are open till Dec. 3rd...I just haven't had the time to chase them with all these other critters up in close....And capt Kerry had a legal greater Jack today just 8 miles from the truck too...... but we had a limit of Flounder again and I even got to catch a few... so many decisions on what to chase. You know, if the days are gonna be so much shorter when the fishing is this good I think we should just figure out a way to make 'em wider......that way we could cram more species in when they are all here !
Capt. Lary Pentel
Deadfish
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