Back to the Beach
Capt. Larry Pentel
August 14, 2008
Destin - Saltwater Fishing Report
I got back to Seagrove from Indian Pass yesterday evening. I had planned to stay almost a week longer but the weather had been horrible for 2 days and as rough as it was I figured the tarpon bite would be off for a while. How rough was it?
Well, St Geaorge Island was without power yeaterday afternoon and the talk was it would take a couple days to get ANY power back and weeks to fix it right. Seems the wind was so strong in one of the squalls that came through it blew down 4 of the big power poles that run across Appalachicola Bay to the Island and blew the line apart in several other places. Glad I'm not trying to sell ice cream on the island----
The Tarpon did right what they were supposed to and when it was calm for a few days in a row the bite was great! Lots of big fish the week before I left. I had a young (14 yr old) angler turn to me Sunday afternoon and say " These fish are too big for me, if I try to fight one like you say they are going to pull me overboard, I can't catch 'em". 'Course the poor kid had just lost a 200#+ fish after fighting it for an hour- the 5th fish we had hooked for him and the ones that got stuck were all giants. Wish we could have got a "little" 75# fish for the fellow-- He did catch a nice a tripletail on his own tho---.. Friday I had 2 anglers in great shape wanting a big fish. One of 'em had a fine tarpon 'bout 200# eat his pogy and get hooked. About 3 and half hours latter we got the monster to the boat for me to leader up. The old adage "Be carefull what you wish for" comes to mind with the big Tarpon!!!.
All in all it was a great season at the 'Pass, lots of Tarpon and sharks and 'tails. I've got a couple days of getting caught up before I can start bottom fishing off Grayton again but should be in full swing by next week. The fishery here is extrordinary, catching red snappers a mile from the truck some days . But, you know, there is nothing like making a fish bigger than you are jump 10 feet out of the water right in front of you!!
I promised pictures when I got back so here are few-- I'll add more to the next couple reports as well-
My 22# 'Tail from a day off
This angler beat me by 4 with a 26# 'Tail
Just under 20# but a fine fish- And this angler had also just caught the Tarpon below!
Nothing like having it all !
This one by a die hard bass fisherman that I have converted to "real" fishing! He left his bananas at the bunkhouse this day!
And one more- Just a neat shot of one at the boat
All the reports from the other beach boats at Grayton are that the Red Snapper bite has been fantastic. I figure my wrecks and rocks should be packin' pretty good since I have left 'em alone for 6 weeks. Give me call and we'll go fill the freezer!
Capt Larry Pentel
"Dead Fish"
Target Species:
Red Snapper, Grouper, Kings
More Fishing Reports:
