Report for Destin, Florida - Nearshore

Capt. Larry Pentel
December 13, 2003
Destin - Saltwater Fishing Report

It's that time of year of again. More fish than folks who want to chase 'em and the pretty days are never on the weekends. I cancelled todays trip with a forecast of 20 knot winds from the SE and rain by lunch, looks like Monday will be the next nice day to go.

We usually get one or two perfect days a week this time of year and if your lucky enough to be able to fish on one it sure is a treat. Capt. Randall Jones and I were both at Indian Pass day before yesterday with no trip on a pretty day. We took my Xpress up into the skinny water to play fish and found the water nice and clear and full of redfish. Big schools in the holes and singles up the flats. I knew we were getting spoiled when Randall ( his turn on the bow, me poling) told me to ignore the big mud ball of what was obviuosly 50 or so reds in a 2 ft hole and find him a single on a flat so he could have a challenge and watch it eat. We caught fish for about 2 1/2 hours before we had the water so muddied up it was impossible to see 'em any more. Lots of fish in the 10 to 15# range- a little bigger than what we usually find on the flats. Yesterday was even prettier but the folks I had lined up to fish left town 'cause it was too cold (?). If they had waited one more day-

I ran 3 Gulf trips last week on some very pretty days and am pleased to report that the groupers are inshore and feeding. Still lots of big Bull sharks around tho as we lost several nice fish including a 20 plus grouper to them. The triggers have thined out some but still seem to be around enough to get a mess. The nice surprise was we found several schools of big vermillion snappers. Now big is relative term and these fish were in the 1 1/2# range which is great for a "B-liner".

Plenty to catch-If you can plan your trips around the weather your line should stay tight and your cooler full.

Capt. larry Pentel

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