Report for Destin, Florida - Nearshore

Capt. Larry Pentel
January 1, 2001
Destin - Saltwater Fishing Report

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!

My mother always used to tell me that whatever you did the first day of the new year set the pace for the rest of the year to follow. With that in mind I've always tried to go fishing new years day even if it was only for a little bit. My wife and I spent the weekend at Indian Pass but I slid out this morning with Capt. Randall Jones to fish for an hour or so before we drove home. Randall had run a charter new years eve day and had come back with stories of huge schools of redfish out in the bay. His party seemed real happy and had caught some fish so I was eager to "go play".

Naturally when we went to the ramp this morning It was gray and overcast, not the best conditions for sight fishing. I took the boat to one of our usual "favorite" flats but all these cold fronts have blown the water down to Mexico or somewhere making appalachicola bay look completely different from normal. Spots that usually have a foot of water over 'em are now 2 feet above the water. I quickly gave way to Randalls find of yesterday and we ran out into the bay. Our first drift we saw lots of mud trails as single fish spooked from the boat as we drifted onto them. With no sun it looked like it was going to be tuff to catch a fish in short order. I ran the boat back around for another drift and poled us in a litle closer to the high and dry oyster bar we were fishing. We were in about 8 inches of water when all of a sudden we drifted into a patch of pure mud. There were so many redfish, all rootin' around in that shallow water that it looked like a big yoo- hoo got spilled. I put the pole down and flipped a lure to what looked like a good size boil and worked it twice. A nice solid thump and I'm on. I didn't know if Randall was having more fun fishin' or laughing at me trying to keep my balance on the poling platform as I tried to climb down at the same time my fish decided to run up under the boat. After a great fight we got pictures of each of us holding up redfish about 7#. Mine had about 4 spots on his side and an almost blue tint to his tail. I even made it back to the fish camp before my wife was completely packed and ready to go !

There are still pleny of sheepshead around for those wanting to fish around the bridges. The speckled trout are in the deep holes and/or fresh water. Fish slow and subtle for them . All this cold weather will have them acting more like bass than trout.

OFFSHORE

I've only made one Gulf trip since I wrote last and that was Christmas Eve. I took two locals on a five hour shallow water bottom trip. We stayed in less than 75' of water and within 4 miles of the beach. We came back in with 9 nice gag grouper to about 15#. All were caught on fairly light tackle for bottom fishing. The big news were the ones we had to throw back tho. We caught 5 snappers in the 10# plus range while trying to catch grouper! We had one follow a hooked fish up to the boat that probably went close to 25#. It was the biggest snapper I've ever seen in 55 feet of water. I know where he lives and you can bet I'll be back there April 15th when snappers reopen.

There is excellent bottom fishing all winter in the area if the weather will cooperate. It has been so cold lately that not many folks have been wanting to spend the day in the gulf. Hopefully this weather pattern will straighten out and I can spend some more time in the gulf. Untill then I think I'll try to drum up some more redfish trips where we can fish protected water 5 minutes from the ramp!!

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