Report for Destin, Florida - Nearshore

Capt. Larry Pentel
December 3, 2000
Destin - Saltwater Fishing Report

OFFSHORE

It's bright sunny and 48 degrees outside with a 25 knot North wind Blowin'. But with the conditions we had the past three days I knew it couldn't last forever. Yesterday and the day before I ran gulf trips with locals. We had the Best weather imaginable with temps in the upper 60's and winds light to dead calm. The 1st of Dec. and we were fishing in short sleeves and soakin'up rays. I love living in Florida.

I love fishin' in Florida too. The groupers have made a move to the beach and seemed to be rather hungry from the trip. Friday afternoon I had 1 angler who wanted shots at groupers and he got'em. Our first stop was in 65 ft. of water just 3 miles from the truck. No live bait and light tackle(40#) and my angler connected. The first bite he had was a fine gag about 15# that I was proud to gaff for him. The next couple of bites were either bigger fish or just smarter as they won the tug of war by breaking off. We fished 3 other spots out to 100 ft. with good bites on all of 'em. We ended up a 3 and a half hour trip with 4 groupers and some fine snappers in the 10# range.Not thatwe justcame in with 3 gags. We had a bull dolphin about 15# that put on a great display at the boat along with some triggers and vermillion snappers. We also went through a bunch of hooks !! Yesterday I had two anglers and we went off in search of groupers again. The fish were still biting just as well. We ended up with 9 groupers up to 20# all on 40 and 50# tackle. The irony was I brought a 6/0 with 100# and we ran some big baits with it. We shut down every spot we fished by breaking off a big grouper on the heavy tackle. If you've never fished for groupers in short ( less than 80 ft.) water you have no idea at how well they can fight. At that depth the fish don't embolize on the way up so they fight the whole way. A 15# fish doesn't just roll up to the top and let you lift him in the boat like in deep water. You have to chase'em with the gaff and be ready to lose fish right at the boat. Our bonus fish for yesterday included 2 nice black (mangrove) snapper, triggers, b-liners and 7 big amberines that are going to make some great fried fish sandwiches today.

I can't wait for this blow to move on through so I can get back out. I haven't hit any of the usual Grouper "holes" yet!!!

INSHORE

For all you bridge and pier type fish heads I am proud to report that the sheepshead have started to show. They don't jump, they aren't pretty but they bulldog great and it takes a little finnese to hook 'em. The best thing is once they show up they'll be here till March.

My old fishin' buddy and fellow Indian Pass guide Randall Jones called Friday night to tell me the Redfish had showed up on the flats. He had gone out late that afternoon by himself and said he saw probably 200 fish. I asked how many he caught and he started mumbling about trying to put the push pole down and strip line off the fly-rod and still stay in range and clear the tangles and....Anyway the fish are here and I know it works a lot better if you've got one guy as the assigned angler and another as the guide/poler. I'll have to get over there in the next week with or without a charter so we can show each other how it's done.

Let's go!!! It's not cold and blowy everyday and the rewards are great for those that fish the "offseason"

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