Report for Destin, Florida - Nearshore

Capt. Larry Pentel
November 27, 2002
Destin - Saltwater Fishing Report

Thanksgiving week and everybody wants to go fishing. After alsmost two weeks with only 2 trips I am fortunate enough to have 9 days in a row booked

Hopefully the next 5 will be as good as the past 4. Sunday I had a 5 hour with folks that had been several times before and knew the drill. The fishing was hot and we got lucky too, a great combo. We ended the day with 11 grouper to 20# and a PILE of triggers and even had a couple of bonus fish. A 32# cobia and a 175# bull shark. Both of which bit at about the same time and did thier best to tangle my anglers up. I finally managed to gaff the cobia and put him in the boat so we could chase the shark. After a 15 minute chase I grabbed the leader and jokingly asked the angler if he wanted him. The answer was a a very emphatic "yes". Now I hadn't brought a gun but always aimming to please ( if I aim at all)I took my big aftco gaff and stuck it in his mouth and hung on. Hopefully my arms will shrink back to normal length soon. Seems this creature was still a little green and we had another 10 minute battle with me about overboard twice. When the creature finally calmed down we got a rope around 'em and drug backwards till it was safe to slide 'em over the side. I think my angler will be eating shark steaks 'till easter. And my gaff looks like a pretzel.

A couple more good boxes in between but today was a "fun" day. I took a regular and his family kid fishin'. Probably the lightest wieght box of the week but the most fun. We caught some triggers and then camped out on a big stand of vermillion snappers. Two of the kids were catching one at a time pretty good but the youngest(7?) and mom were bailing 'em. Three at time as fast as they could hit the bottom and crank up. Dad had a couple of nice grouper but got beat by his daughter who caught the biggest one of the day. He got something even better, all his family was already wanting him to take 'em fishing again. Now thats a catch!

Captain Larry Pentel

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