Report for Destin, Florida - Nearshore

Capt. Larry Pentel
October 14, 2007
Destin - Saltwater Fishing Report

In the 10 days since my last report I have run a trip everyday. Some days were a lot calmer than others but it was fishable!

The red tide has moved over from Panama city and now extends all the way to Pensacola. Not one solid Gulf full of bloom but spotty and at different depths. There are a few areas offshore where the fish were stacked up pretty good and are now devoid of life on the bottom. If you move a couple miles everything seems pretty normal. Hopefully these fish are swimming off and are not just lying dead on the bottom. There have not been many fish washing up on the beach here.

The King bite got pretty hot on the beach right after my last report but the red tide has moved them on. I caught bait real good the past two mornings after not having any around for few days so hopefully the kings will come back in close chasing the cigar minnows. We caught a 20# king day 'fore yesterday on a grouper bait on the bottom in 90 feet so I know they are still here.

Todays trip was a half day with 4 folks that come every year. Started out a little sloppy and ended up downright rough. On top of that we had 2 dolphins that attached themselves to us eating every big snapper we could get off the bottom. Pretty frustrating when you finally get the big bite just to feed that fish to a freeloader! My crew persevered and we came in with 14 nice Red Snappers. I hate coming in 2 short of a limit but we were all tired of battling the seas. A lot harder to hold the boat on a spot in a 20 knot breeze and a swell than when it's slick!

Still quite a few groupers around. We have been getting a lot of good ones to bite (lost 3 today and more than twice that yesterday)- as always most of 'em catch the angler unaware -expecting a snapper and not ready for a freight train that runs straight into the reef. About a week ago I ran a group of regulars that are experienced anglers on a half day. We got our 20 fish snapper limit, everybody took a turn on the grouper rod and landed a good one including a Red pushing 20# and 3 nice gags. It was getting sloppy (been a lot of that lately!) so we ran in to the beach to finish out the last hour and half trollin' and added 5 kings to the box. A fantastic box of fish for half day. I always say I'd rather be lucky than good but it does make a difference when you have some experience at both ends of the fishing line! I figure we fried all the dumb fish years ago- just the smart ones left now!

Get on out-- if you pull up to your favorite spot and don't see show just move inshore or offshore a few miles. Chances are you'll find 'em stacked up!

Capt Larry Pentel

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