More Fixin' than Fishin'
Capt. Larry Pentel
December 14, 2009
Destin - Saltwater Fishing Report
After one of the best runs of pretty weather in years (for months !) it has turned pretty nasty for a while. There have not been a lot of pretty, warm and calm days since my last report. It's either been cold and blowy or warm and rainy- or , like today so foggy you can't see a 1/4 mile. The fish don't seem to mind though. I took a ride on the beach at Grayton mid-day after running errands and watched the only 3 folks on the beach miss 2 bites and land a nice redfish that they released. Just shows that if you get the chance to go there are still plenty to catch!
My oldest daughter (the Tripletail queen) wanted oysters somethin' fierce so we came over to Indian Pass and picked up a limit on one of the prettier days this past 2 weeks. A little cold but sunny and calm. On the way back to the ramp I saw a flock of terns picking shrimp off the top so we made a couple drifts and sure enough, the trout were there. We caught 7 and kept 5 in about half an hour and the gals (my wife Mary came too) decided that was all the fish we needed. I have to give credit to daughter Darcy- she outfished the old man. In my defence though I was answering the phone, netting her fish, trying to keep the boat on the right drift and I think maybe the sun got in my eyes-----. It was a fun day and the fish and oysters made for even better dinners for couple nights !
Her 2 biggest-
I kept thinking I was going to go sightfishing redfish by myself but all the chores keep getting in the way. I have been rebuilding reels, wiring, trailers etc. I did walk out on my dock at Indian Pass the other afternoon after riding the tractor and running the chain saw all day-- The redfish are definitely there!!! I made a couple blind casts to the edge of an oyster bar ( the water was muddy) and then watched one crash a bait over my shoulder. I turned around and flipped a rubber shrimp where I had seen him and only had to twitch it twice. Wham, a good hook set and 15 minutes later I was easin' up a just legal ( 26 3/4") red onto the bank. It was great fish but the best part was watchin 3 other fish spook when my hooked fish was darting around the mud flat.
I am going North to the REAL cold land of Maine to visit my other daughter this week so fishing is out til 'bout Christmas. I probably won't post another report till the New Year. There are usually a few charters to run the last week of the year and with amberjacks re-opening Jan 1st there will be a big push to chase them the first weekend of the year. I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a happy , healthy (fishy) New Year!!!
Plenty of finny critters to catch if you get a nice day down here while I'm up freezin' --- take advantage of what you get and hook some!
Capt Larry Pentel
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