Report for Destin, Florida - Nearshore

Capt. Larry Pentel
January 3, 2002
Destin - Saltwater Fishing Report

BBRRRRR!!! Boy it's cold! We came back from vacation in the bahamas to find somebody had left the freezer door open. I had trips lined up all this week but the weather has been too raw to want to run most of 'em. Tomorrow looks like it might be sunny and light winds with the temp up to 55 so I guess we'll go.

I ran a 4 hr. bay trip on Sunday (the 30th) hoping to catch some trout. Out of the dozen or so boats I talked to there were 2 keeper trout caught. It seems the cold front had given 'em lock jaw. After an unproductive hour I went to plan B and got my two anglers string stretched pretty good. We caught 2 Hybrid bass (sunshines) about 8# , 1 striper 'bout 10# and some sheepsheads. We had 3 other stripers on ( one for over 10 minutes) but our luck wouldn't hold to land 'em. This cold weather seems to have the stripers all fired up. I have heard of several fish in the 25-30# range being caught up the rivers by folks specificaly targeting them.

Monday I ran a gulf trip with 3 little girls (9-12) and Dad. It was COLD. We idled out about 1/2 a mile offshore and they caught 10 nice flounders in less than a hour. Dad and I took the kids back in to warm up and we went out to chase bigger fish. With good success too, we had a limit of amberines (10), 2 almaco jacks a 7# black snapper and a 12# grouper. Not to bad for 1 guy in about 21/2 hours.

The family and I had a good time in the bahamas and caught a lot of fish we don't see here. I don't think I'll be leaving the country any time soon again tho-. The traveling was a major hassle and the Islands have been trashed ( literally) by a lot of folks that just don't care. The closest thing to paradise I've found is still this 100 mile stretch of Gulf front we live on. Now if only there were conchs to catch and fry....

Capt. Larry Pentel

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