Everythings Biting !
Capt. Larry Pentel
October 23, 2008
Destin - Saltwater Fishing Report
I know I sound like a broken record sometimes but this time of year has countless fishing opportunities and this year has darn near all of 'em red hot. Yesterday was the perfect example. My charter canceled last minute so I went out all alone to commercial King fish. It's about the only time I get to catch fish myself and I enjoy the tar out of it as well as being able to make a good paycheck. The kings bit great and I was coping with sloppy conditions and a hot bite when something hit the minnow I was dropping back. Ten feet further back it hit again and 5 seconds after throwing the reel in gear a great big sail came out greyhounding like he had somewhere to go! I had 2 other lines out and the fish turned to run straight up sea quickly dumping my little TLD. I managed to get everything clear and chased 'em down for about 40 minutes. He only jumped about 3 times using the energy instead to fight more like a big Tarpon and try to wear me down. I got him up to the boat, made a couple pictures, pulled the hook and watched him swim off to hopefully get caught again some other day. Only the 3rd time I have ever got to catch a sail myself (clients usually get 'em) and at about 80# by far my biggest and probably the 2nd biggest ever to my boat
Everything is biting with the snappers still as good as they have ever been. We are throwing back 5# fish steady as you know the next one is going to weigh 8#. The only thing that hasn't been easy have been the Dolphins. They are getting more and more aggressive about stealing fish off the line and shutting down the bite. If it's calm you just pick up and run but when it's rough it makes it difficult. I am not going to sit there and throw fish to 'em though. I hate to leave a good bite but I refuse to train 'em up even more!
These folks didn't have to mess with other air-breathers and got a fantastic catch of both Black and Red snappers along with a few of everything else. Five of the snappers weighed over 10#!
This is half the crew-other half went out of Destin- We won the bet for best catch!
Last report I mentioned the Kings should start soon. This Gal and her daughter got handed a rough blowy day but made the most of it by getting a beautiful rack of fish even though we came in early. The fish in the middle is 56" long- a KIng, not a Wahoo!
Glory fish plus a freezer full of triggers!
Most of my trips are half days but sometimes I have folks want to stay longer. This group decided to fish an extra 2 hours after we already had a nice catch of Snappers. What to do? catch Jacks and triggers of course- and maybe grouper fish a little---
Hard to fit all the fish in the picture!
These folks have few fewer fish but what a catch on a half day. They landed a couple of almost every usual target species as well as a great grade of snappers. A couple of 'em are regulars that I had tried to teach how to trigger fish for years. It finally clicked this year!
The perfect 1/2 day catch!
The reports from Indian Pass have lots of 100+ fish trout trips as long as the weather is good. The surf guys here in S Walton have been blistering the skippies and blues as well as some great whiting and redfish catches. The Pomps are starting to show pretty good but no "banner" catches yet. Probably start after this blow-
Blowy today and tomorrow but I'll be back out as soon as the weather allows. About the only things to limit your catch right now are weather and experience. Usually 1/2 an hour experience is all you need to get past that part. If you'll turn the crank I can have anybody catchin' fish by the end of a trip!
Only 1 week left to snapper season. It's been the best one I can ever recall but I'm ready to start changing gears and chasing other species. I know there are more sails in close and it would be nice to finally get that King over 65# I've been after all these years------
capt Larry Pentel
More Fishing Reports:
