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Report for Destin, Florida - Nearshore
Capt. Larry Pentel
March 3, 2001
Destin - Saltwater Fishing Report
OFFSHORE
It's official, the first cobia was caught yesterday so it really is spring! Cathi Wagner caught the first cobia of 2001 on the "Full Pull" to keep her streak going. The 65# fish made it the third year in a row she started the local tournaments by catching the first fish. The Full Pull crew had fished Tuesday also and reported seeing 3 fish that they were unable to catch. Anyone who has spent anytime sightfishing for cobias knows the confusion and melee that can happen even when you find a hungry fish. There is a major cold front coming coming through this weekend so the big migration of cobias probably won't start till the usual time latter in March. Even so it is reassuring to see the run start.
I got to spend the last two days bottom fishing out in the Gulf so I have a little bit of a report to give. We fished out a little further offshore than I usually do but found the fish to be in the normal spring pattern. All the big spots had had good shows of fish on them with the big steel and higher ledges holding quite a few amberjacks. Most of the fish we found were less than the legal limit of 28" to the fork but were quite game to wear an angler out. With the current limit being one fish per person we didn't need to find very many over the size line to limit out. We also found several grouper each day but not in the numbers of back in Jan. . I got to fish a little bit yesterday and hooked what was probably the biggest grouper I've had on in years . The fish won the fight fair and square but had to tow the boat about 200 ft to get back to his rock . I was afraid to put any more pressure on him than I did for fear of just breaking off. I did get to catch a nice one of about 12# on the next down. Luckily my angler had already caught a bigger fish so nobody felt bad about the captain fishing for a minute. And yes,I remember where the big one is living .
The surface water temp is 66 but the fish acted like it was still much cooler on the bottom. The spring movement inshore has definately started with the cobias showing and the huge schools of bait we saw near the beach running home both days. This big blow coming now will actually help the fishing by giving the fish a little "push" out of deep water and into the beach. The end of the month should see lots of folks just totally confused on what to chase with all the different species that willl be running. The spanish usually show en mass right after the first cobia so i would not be surprised to see them on the beach in the next 10 days or so.
Ifyour planning on Tarpon fishing in July or August please call your reservations in early especially if you want weekends. Everyone who went last year knows how exiting it is.
INSHORE
The sheep head have been the mainstay for the inshore boats this past week with limit catches occuring regularly at Destin Bridge. The "convict Snapper" must be about to head back out in the open Gulf and are staging at the pass before leaving. If this coming cold front keeps the water temp. from rising anymore they may stick around for another week or so. I walked out on my dock this morning and they were small fry everywhere. Huge scools of small mullet, spot minnows, glass minnows etc.. I would think the flats should be coming to life with specks as soon as it warms up after this front.
Clean those reals, respool new line and get some sunscreen-- It's time to go Fishin!!!!!
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