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Report for Destin, Florida - Nearshore
Capt. Larry Pentel
May 28, 2004
Destin - Saltwater Fishing Report
Blown of the water this AM so I guess I'll write a report. It's memorial day weekend, I've got regulars for the next 4 days and the forecast is for 15 knot SW winds with a 3 to 4 foot (choppy) sea for the next 5 days. Oh well, lots of "real world" chores to do.
I ran the past 8 days in some great weather up till yesterday. The fish have been chewing and the box has been down right impressive. The hardtails are as thick as I've ever seen 'em in close and the Jacks have followed. Put a couple dozen 'tails in the livewell-go to any big rock or wreck- hang on.
Even with it a little sloppy yesterday and not being able to run very far or fast we limited out on snapper (2@8#), had a legal AJ, a nice grouper and a king. Even had a mahi on the fly pole for a while 'fore he jumped off. Just fishy.
This past week I took a family that has fished with me every year for 5 years. They book me 2 days while on vacation. One day for fish to eat while here and one day to fill the cooler to take back to Arkansas. Monday was day one and our first stop was an AJ rock. The fish bit good and we got one nice one to the boat but broke off a bunch of big ones till the sharks showed up and shut us down. Ok now they want snappers, we went and caught about 8 and then they start talking about groupers, allright we'll try them. Got 4 grouper in the box fairly quick but one of the 4 anglers wants a king and another wants some triggers. We switch gears a little again and the fish keep cooperating. At the end of our 4 hours they've got 2 kings, 4 groupers, 15 triggers, a bunch of vermillin snappers the red snaps and the AJ. Just one of those days when everything clicked and the chamber of commerce couldn't build a better day.
Couple days latter and we're on thier second trip. First words out are they want a rematch with the Jacks. We go back to the same rock and the fish swim up to greet us while trying to eat my propeller. No leads, no leaders just a 11/0 circle hook in a hardtail on a 4/0 reel full of 50#. The fish were knocking the baits out of the water. Full on rally with everybody yelling and screaming, tangled lines, 3 big bull sharks in with the Jacks and adrenaline flowing like bottled water. We put a limit of AJ's in the box and everybody is about as fired up as you can get. The rest of the trip had us running from the porposises from spot to spot so fast that all we got to do was make 1 drop a stop. I think it was all part of the big plan tho 'cause we ended up with 12 Nice Red Snaps and 4 (everybody got one) Black grouper in the 10# class. Needless to saythe cooler(s) going home were full. I just don't know what they expect next year tho---
All those fish to chase and I'm on the hill. Hopefully the weathermans wrong (again)and we'll get to go out right after my chores get caught up.
Capt. Larry Pentel
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