Report for Destin, Florida - Nearshore

Capt. Larry Pentel
August 7, 2007
Destin - Saltwater Fishing Report

Feelin' HOT HOT HOT

The weather had definately hit the dog days. I put a cooler full of water bottles in the boat every AM and take a 5 gallon bucket full of empties out in the PM. It's hard to drink too much on an August day outdoors!

The Tarpon bite has not been as hot as the weather everyday. They have been a bit erratic with some days just dead ("where'd they go George?")and then the next day they go off for hours---. I guess if it was easy it wouldn't be such a challenge to get a big fish!!!.

A couple of the more memorable days this past week-- Yesterday we went out at 9;30 AM-- late by anybody's standards but I had a Dad and 4 (sleepy) teenage girls on vacation. By 10:15 we had 5 sharks to the boat and one gal had caught her first fish ever ! At 11 AM a 16 year old (that has been fishin' with me since she was 7)hooks up a good Tarpon. 39 minutes latter I grab the leader on a 6 foot 8 inch fish 'bout 150#. We make pictures- pull a scale and do a good release. Any one who has caught a Tarpon over 100# Knows that this could (should ?) have been at least an hour and a half on 40# line---- I'll put this gal up against just about anybody!!

A couple days ago we were in the Tarpons good all morning but just couldn't seem to put one in the air. Went and looked for Tripletails and my angler got a 24# fish--on 10# tackle ! Took over half an hour to land and made some great jumps.

I took a couple "summer time" locals last week and we got a gal her first ever Tarpon- she had tried before with a boyfriend (and an ex) but had never succeeded till now-- lots of exitement and a proud owner of a shiny silver scale. One of our neighbors (who split the trip with her) has fished here since he was a little kid- took 'em lookin' for tails like what he wanted and scored-- He got a 12# and an 18#, said the 18# was the biggest one he had ever seen. He's been here every summer for over 20 years!~then we went and blew a 25+#!!!!

On the inside scene Capt Will (son) borrowed my flats boat the other AM and ran a half day in the skinny water. His father and son angler team got 9 redfish, a flounder and a couple trout. While I don't usually chase 'em this time of year it seems they are here too!

Ran a scallop trip a couple days age in the "other" bay. I had heard from several folks that that the scallopin' was tough. We made a couple stops that were completely dry but found 'em on the 4th and 5th stops real good. The best advice I can give is don't spend too long in a "dry "area. If you don't find anything in 5 minutes pick up and move. All the usual hot spots have been picked clean by now. Try to look a little out of the way. I talked to some Destin folks who came over friday-didn't get a thing- Sat. they moved to the other side of the Bay and scouted a little- got a limit-Sunday went back to that area and limited out in less than 2 hours! My personal boat limit is 5 gallons--thats all I'm willing to shuck anyway!! If folks will shuck 'em themselves I'm all over that 10 gallon state limit! Remember-throw the little ones back- the meat is too small any way!

Put a few gallons of water in the cooler, some gas in the tank and come join us--- Plenty of fun and fish for everybody!!!!!!

I'm here the "Pass" 'till the 19th, then back to Grayton to chase Snappers and the like. I plan on putting as many Tarpon in the air as possible before then!!!!!!

Capt Larry Pentel

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