Capt. Larry Pentel
September 4, 2006
Destin - Saltwater Fishing Report
I'ts Labor Day so I guess summer is "officially" over. Luckily for us the next 6 weeks are some of the best here in Seagrove---
The fish bite has been a little erratic. Todays board was GREAT- My 4 anglers tallied 13 Red Snapper, 4 Black Groupers, 2 spanish, a 20# King, a trigger, 4 mahi and a couple blue fish on a 4 hour. This is what we kept-- we threw back a bunch that were "just" short
Yesterday on the other hand I hit some great spots and the fish just wouldn't fire up. My 3 folks ended up with 3 Red Snappers, a Black Snapper, a Black Grouper, 2 Kings (small), 6 trigger and 2 Mahi. I ran a lot further and fished a lot harder to make that board. The Kings bit good but we caught a bunch of shorts so I gave up on that and went and bottom fished. I told my folks I'd fish 'em a little longer no charge but they wanted to go in at the end of our 4 hour- Said they had more fish than they could eat allready-- As long as everybody's happy !!!!
The bite has been on and off like that tho-- One day the kings bite great and a good grade. The next all you can get is little uns-- The snappers are kinda the same. One day they eat and the next they don't. Luckily we seem to always be able to find some species willing to cooperate. As the water starts to cool the fish will get into that fall feeding mode and it will be easy again.
One species that likes this hot weather is the Mahi. This time of year you need to have a light rod rigged with a just a hook so you can grab it quick when the green glow swimms up to the boat. While most of the fish up inshore will be "schoolies" we had 4 nice ones swim up 3 days ago and got all 4. Not big but in the 8# range- 'bout 30 inches. A wonderfull treat to have jumping on the end of 12# spinning rod----
Gulf Fishing off Grayton Beach in beautiful South Walton. Red Snapper to Cobia to King Mackeral to Grouper. No need to get up early or drive for an hour to a marina. We will pick you up on the beach and be on a reef or wreck in usually less than 15 minutes. Some of the Gulfs best fishing lies just offshore of the snow white sands of South Walton. We also offer Tarpon trips at Indian Pass during the summer run. July and August have large schools of giant Silver Kings feeding just off the beach.