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Report for Destin, Florida - Nearshore
Capt. Larry Pentel
February 16, 2005
Destin - Saltwater Fishing Report
Only one month 'till Cobia season!!!!
In the spring a young (?) mans fancy turns to thoughts of throwing an eel in front of 100# fish!
Barring any major changes in the weather pattern we are looking to have a good season. No dredging projects on the beach, the water is the normal temerature and we had a big hurricane last fall. The last fact is important because it deepens ( or does away with) the second sand bar. It seems the years when the bar is missing the cobia come in closer and are more ganged up making them easier to find.
Haven't been able to run many trips offshore lately as we have had our share of winter seas and winds. The fish are doing what they are supposed too though with good grouper catches on the days we get out. An intersting catch the last few trips have been octopus (octopi ?) They seem to have made a sudden comeback as my folks have caught a couple every time we've gone out this year. There are days when that is the best grouper bait imaginable with a tentacle getting hit over any live bait. Other days they ignore it with a passion. Nice to have a couple in the bait box though. Trip before last we came in with 11 grouper on a 4 hr. and 9 of 'em hit octopus! 'Course 3 days later we never had a bite on it!
The inshore fishing over at Indian Pass is great as usual for winter. The trout are in the oyster bar holes. Not in the numbers of the fall or what will be there in a month but good size ones. The reds are up on the flats and on top of the bars which is nice as it gives you something to take home during the trout closure in Feb. The key to catching trout this time of year is to rember they bite SOFT when it's cold. If that bobber just wiggles, set the hook. If that grub your slow rolling off the bottom kinda pulls just a little, set the hook! They do wake up and fight once they realize there's an issue.
One species open in February is oysters. Not much of a fight (!) but they sure are good. When I'm fishin' at the "Pass" in the winter we usually stop and pick some up for a snack and bring a few home. We picked up a cooler full Saturday waiting for the tide to change. As good as they get. Salty , sweet and plump,catching fish afterwards was anti-climatic. We ate some more raw when we came in and I baked some up for my anglers that evening as well. I LOVE a good day on the water!!!!
The new boat is almost done. I'm waiting on the guy to come and clean the fuel tanks, he was supposed to do it 2 weeks ago. And the electronics man to come hook up the auto pilot and radar. Everything else is done. The boat cleaned up real well and the new curtains make it look very inviting to go blasting off even in Feb !! Yesterday and today have fog so thick it's hard to tell which way is up. Warm nice weather but without that radar your limited to about 4 knots and even thats scary. I HOPE that a week from now I'll be fine tuning the props.
April has booked up pretty good already so if you want to cobia fish call soon. I'm starting to get a little anxious myself.
Capt Larry Pentel
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