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Report for Destin, Florida - Nearshore
Capt. Larry Pentel
April 16, 2001
Destin - Saltwater Fishing Report
OFFSHORE
Happy Snapper Season! With snappers opening on Easter this year it gave all us fish crazy types a chance to really celebrate spring. Conditions weren't ideal with west winds blowing at about 15 knots in the AM and increasing to 25 by late afternoon but I didn't keep my folks out but just for the best weather. I picked my charter of Dad and 4 boys up at 8 and we were back on the trailer at 11:30 with a limit of FINE Red Snapper. I headed out to a rock about 3 miles off the beach from where they climbed aboard and proceeded to teach the kids ( 10 to 13 year olds) how to slip lead fish. Once they had the knack they decided it was almost too easy untill the big bites came. Nothing like yelling for help to humble you quick. I think we've got some more fishing fanatics in the first stages , it's great fun to be the one to get 'em started. All the other captains I talked to last night had no trouble finding fish either but it took a few folks a little longer and they regretted coming in the higher winds. With federal waters opening in another week it promises to be another banner year of bottom fishing.
On the cobia front it's a mixed report. As always you just have to be at the right place at the right time. Wednesday and Thursday had ideal cobia conditions and my folks were there to take advantage of them. Wednesday we found 13 fish but they weren't really hungry. We hooked 4 and put 3 in the boat with the biggest at 55#. Thursday the fish were starving and ate whatever we threw at 'em. We found 13 again and brought 5 to the boat ( released a little one about 20#). I had a regular on board who had never done any cobia fishing before who I will get to rib for the next year. He had 3 cobias eat pinfish he threw in front of them that he never hooked! I about lost my voice from yelling " SET THE HOOK " and then 'bout fell out of the tower from laughing at the look on his face when he blooped the 3rd one. I hooked up a good fish and handed him the rod so he got to do battle but we are going to work on his fish spotting and hook setting teqnique on another trip next week. Both these days we had our fish within 4 hours and were back in early. Friday I had a 8 hour cobia trip and the fish were no where to be found. We looked for 4 hours with out seeing a thing and only saw 1 other boat find a fish. My charter wanted to try something different so we headed out to bottom fish a little. Not that unusual except that all I had brought were spinning rods as they said they just wanted cobia. We went out and persevered to catch several grouper and a 8# red snapper on 25# test spinning tackle. The biggest grouper was about 13# and put up a 15 minute fight in 75' of water on the "light" tackle.Quite an accomplishment for my angler. At the anglers request we released evrything, even the groupers. With the cold front coming through today the cobias will probably be here enmasse again about middle of the week as the winds shift back to the Northeast. I can't wait.
While I haven't had any trips that wanted to catch them the spanish have shown up thick. We have been seeing lots of schools of "ax handle" mackeral on the bar while cobia fishing. Their bigger brothers, the kings have also shown up in the last 2 days. The biggest problem this week is going to be deciding what to chase!! Kings, Spanish, Cobias, Snappers- so many fish and so little time!!
Make some time and take it, it's a wonderful time of the year.
Capt. Larry Pentel
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