Report for Destin, Florida - Nearshore

Capt. Larry Pentel
August 10, 2005
Destin - Saltwater Fishing Report

As I've said before-the tarpon like it hot, dry and,calm-not exactly the weather we've been having.

After getting over Dennis and then the surf from Emily the fish did what they were supposed to and ganged back up on the beach in the pogies. We had several days of "just right " and saw the show and launched some Tarpon just like it's supposed to be. Then the weather pattern changed and it rained for 8 days-. Not your summer afternoon 15 minute shower but thunderheads at all hours and some toad stranglers. I think I burned more fuel running from storms than chasing fish. Once again the Tarpon got scattered and pushed offshore. According to the weatherman this is behind us and we've got one last shot at "normal" weather. The fish are still here. There are Tarpon in West Pass even with all the fresh water pouring out from the river. I'm seeing fish scattered out offshore. Given a few days of "hot, dry and calm" the pogies will fall back to the beach and the Tarpon will follow.

Not that the fishing hasn't been fun and exiting. I ran a trip with one of my regulars and his son and nephew that had us land 3 tripletails with the largest at 20# on a good scale. The biggest he's ever caught in 30+ years of serious fishing. We also had some great shark action and had Tarpon crashing and thrashing all around the boat for 2 hours till the weather ran us in. While cleaning the 'tails my client said they had one of the best days fishin' ever it just didn't include catchin' a Tarpon. Now this fellow got 2 Tarpon to the boat each day he fished with me last year and had a "real" one spool him as well so I figured they probably had a good time---

Ran a half day with a dad and two boys who were moving from the South to Kansas ( I think thats one of those square states near Canada) This was thier last big beach trip and they went back with lots of pictures to show the kids up North what they did on vacation. Had a great shark show behind the shrimp boats first thing and took plenty of "smiling" shark pics. Then went and looked for 'tails for a couple hours and found 8. We succeded in capturing 3 of 'em and even got them in the right size order to match the anglers!

And then there's the big school of jack cravelle that hung around for a week. One of my anglers put one in the boat I called 40#. Definately the biggest jack I ever seen in all my years--

back to Grayton in about 2 weeks- I hope to add a few more tarpon scales to scrapbooks first.

Capt Larry Pentel

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