Democracy in Fish Reports
Capt. Larry Pentel
February 28, 2010
Destin - Saltwater Fishing Report
For those that are new to my ramblings on this space, I've been doin' it for awhile. When I started writing fishin' reports over 10 years ago they all just kinda got lumped into being posted under the location of "destin". While I will run out from between the rocks at Destin's East Pass a couple times a year the majority of my trips are run off the beach at Grayton. If you read these reports occasionally and have a preference as to how they are labeled, drop me an e-mail. If I get more with folks wanting me to change it to Grayton (or South Walton) I will, more wanting to leave it as Destin-- so be it. And if I don't get any back at all I'll know folks only read this when they think I have posted thier picture in a report!
Back to the fishin' scene (and what I am 'posed to be talkin' about !) I am still running offshore to the big steel wrecks chasing Amberjacks. I got to run another local crew this week and we found all we needed on our first stop. Once again it took us a bit to get 'em fired up but once they did the bite was pretty hot. The fish seemed to be a little bigger than last trip and we didn't catch but a few that wouldn't have made the "legal length.
"I think your bobber went under"
What was attached at the other end
We caught about half our fish on live bait and the other half on jigs. I sure like jiggin' 'em up but man, that's a young mans sport to catch more than a couple good size fish on a jig!
get the grease hot!
We found a pretty fair bite of vermillion snappers as well and caught about 2 dozen of them as well as a couple triggers and an amberine. My one angler from Ga. took all the pinks we kept home (several dozen) on the old Red Holland adage " If that was a bream you'ld be excited !"
If we can get a few more of these warmer days and get the water temp up a couple degrees the Vermillions will start making thier move up inshore. Any big spot, natural or artificial will have 'em when they move. While most folks target 'em with a regulation 2 hook rig remember that these fish are a true snapper, If you get lucky enough to find a stand of them try slip leading 'em--just like red snappers except try a smaller hook and bait. You may be pleasantly surprised that while they only come up one at a time the grade will improve drastically. I have found that the size will usually double on slip lead from rat gear--
Get out there and enjoy a pretty day. By my calender it is officially Spring 'cause I got my first sunburn of the year on this last trip!
Capt Larry Pentel
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