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Report for Destin, Florida - Nearshore
Capt. Larry Pentel
June 14, 2004
Destin - Saltwater Fishing Report
Once again I'm sitting at the computer 'cause it's raining and blowy. Anybody who reads this from afar ( if anybody does read it) must think it storms here all the time. Couldn't be further from the truth. I ran the past 8 days in weather the Chamber of Commerce must have ordered.
I think they ordered the bite too. Everything is full of roe, ganged up and on the feed. Lots of Red Snappers like there are supposed to be but lots of Black Snappers as well. Just about any big rock or reef system has these guys up in the water around it righ now. The size seems to range from 4 to 12# with more of 'em toward the 8# class. These critters are even more leader shy than reds and rarley bite a dead bait. A long 40# leader with a lively cigar minnow fished half way down with some patience on the hook set will get 'em every time.
The groupers have been biting really well also. We're on the back side of the moon , it's June and the instruction book says don't catch many grouper right now. Luckily for me they either have a different book or just can't read. Even got a warsaw last week about 5 miles off the beach. At 15# I normally would have tried to talk my anglers into releasing him but we had 2 huge porposise (blackfish) at the boat that would have eaten him within the first 10 feet of his swim for freedom. I figured my folks deserved dinner more than they did.
As good as the catch has been all last week yesterday was something special. I had 4 folks that fish a bunch and know the drill. One has been fishing with me for 28 years and another for 20 we figured out while cleaning fish. I had told them how good the bite was and had a cancellation `so they grabbed the day and booked it for a "daylight" trip- we leave the beach way to early and come back when the box is full.
We came in just before noon with the fish box full and the drink box drained of drinks but full of fish as well. We had a limit of red snappers with most going 6-10#, 4 big black snappers, 8 red groupers, 10 black groupers and a big king. The ringleader made everybody stop fishing 'cause we had run out of room to ice fish. Not bad for a pair of 20'pirogues lashed together and thrown in the surf off the beach!
The first Tarpon of the year was caught at West Pass saturday 9 days ago. heard there were lots seen Sunday also but none jumped. Right on schedule!!!!
As usual I'm off to Indian Pass to chase those giant silver slabs June 30th with my first trip July 1. I'll be over there untill the middle of August. I talked to Capt. Randall over there last night and he told about guiding a fellow to a 120# black tip on his flyrod last week. Other than that nothing too exiting (?). I imagine a ufo sighting would have been dull after a shark rally behind a shrimp boat ending with that catch. In case you've never had the chance to witness it the bigger Blacktips (+spinners) are extremely acrobatic with multiple jumps and carthweels that would earn at least a 9.4 at the olympics .
Still have a few days open in July and most of August so if you want a shot at a silver king give me a call.
Capt. Larry Pentel
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