Oysters & Red Fish-- Winter at it's Finest !
Capt. Larry Pentel
December 5, 2011
Destin - Saltwater Fishing Report
I got to spend most of last week at Indian Pass. Got over there right after a cold front on Tuesday evening. The next day (Wednesday) my wife and my oldest daughter ( the Tripletail Queen) and I braved the cold and went and picked up our limit of oysters. Now, there is no way you can call hoggin' oysters fishing, but boy, do they make for some great dinners, snacks and treats ! I have eaten at least a few everyday this pas week and a couple days we pigged out.
The Oysters are Running !
The next day had the wind down and the temp up a little so Darcy and I went sight fishing Redfish. Now, not to brag on my daughter any but even though she has never done this before the 3rd fish we saw (5 minutes after I started poling) she hooked and caught. As soon as she hooked up I put the pole down and threw at another fish and hooked up also. When I put the 2 fish in the box she asked "whats the limit ?"-- I told her we were limited out and the pressure was off- just throw and have fun ! We had perfect conditions and probably saw over 200 fish in the 2 hours we played- I think we got 10 to eat our rubber shrimps before we went to get more oysters for redfish & oyster stew.
"Your Right Dad- This is Great!"
Not a Tripletail but Just as Much Fun !
I had a pair of long time fishing partners come over to give the Reds a shot the next 3 days. The first day we had clear water, a slight breeze and a high sky. We saw probably over 300 fish with my anglers getting 14 Reds (and a flounder) to the boat and lots of "just missed" casts and laughs at the goofs. We gave the Trout a shot for the last couple hours of the trip but they were not near as cooperative- we only boated 4 specks.
While this fellow shows off his catch his partner is up on the ladder throwing at another !
The next day was breezy, the water was starting to mud up and the conditions made "technical fishing" hard. I think they had half again as many fish pull off as they landed- hard to set the hook in the breeze. Still a good morning though with a 1 fish limit per person it's easy to limit out-- even if you catch fish bigger than the slot--- We had shots at over 200 fish in 4 hours.
Another Nice "Un-- OOPS!! an inch too long ! Throw it back----
Sunday dawned with a 25 knot east wind and 3' waves breaking at the end of the boat ramp. I told my folks there was no way way we could pole the flats and sight fish but we could go up the Intercoastal and catch Reds & Trout on live shrimp no problem. Alas, I had spoiled 'em the 2 days previous and they were "hooked" on sight fishing-- they decided to come back when the weather was more cooperative to do just that. I hate it when I do too good a job of showing folks the most fun part of fishing !!
You can always tell it's winter when the snowbirds show up. No, not the drive 15 miles an hour in the fast lane with a right blinker on birds-- The original snowbirds.
There are 3 different flocks of White Pelicans at the "Pass" this year. A beautiful sight that distracts from looking for Redfish !
I hope to get out in the Gulf for a trip or two at the end of this week and then back to the "Pass" to sight fish Reds again all next week. I heard good reports on the Flounder in the Gulf while we were seeing all the Reds inshore--- so many fish, only so many calm winter days.........
Be ready so you can get out there the next calm day !
capt Larry Pentel
Deadfish
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