Report for Destin, Florida - Nearshore
Capt. Larry Pentel
February 5, 2008
Destin - Saltwater Fishing Report
It's still winter even in Florida which means the weather is unpredictable. I got to run offshore with some locals Sunday and we found the Amberjacks more than willing to play. We caught a pile, most of 'em legal size and threw back all but our limit of 1 per person. When everyone was sufficently wore out Iwent and tried a couple grouper holes. Unfortunately they were not as eager to bite as the jacks and we only landed one. A nice red though that was all this gal could pick up! We hit the beach before noon and got to enjoy one of those beautiful days that makes it all worth while.
A couple of the Jacks, We caught over a dozen-
I ran a Father son trip up the intercoastal yesterday and one of my regulars tagged along as well. We found the trout after a bit bunched up pretty good in a 12' hole at a bend in the channel. We landed around 35 but no big ones. As they are closed in Feb. it didn't matter much as the goal was get a young angler into some fish. We released all the trout along with 3 redfish that joined the action. Always great to take a kid and watch 'em figure it out. This young man had casting down QUICK but had to work through the usual timing issues of setting the hook with a lure. By the end of the trip he had it down was catching fish on artificials as well as the adults.
Another happy angler
I had run up the "ditch" about a week ago when trout were still open but we couldn't get 'em to bite very well. The ones we got were a larger grade than yesterday but we only landed 6. My 2 anglers still got to stretch thier strings tho as we found a pretty good school of reds. We managed to boat 15, releasing 'em all and just keeping trout for dinner.
The inshore fish are in the on again/off again mode this time of yesr. Just because your usual honey hole dosn't draw a sniff don't despair. With the barometer bouncing like a pinball along with the temps this time of year the bite can turn on a dime. Hit a range of spots in the areas you know there are fish. They may be in the bottom of a deep hole one day and 200 yards away on a flat the next. Same school of fish, just reacting to the rapidly changing winter weather-. Once you find an area with fish they are pretty much going to be close by there till the water warms in the spring.
Good luck and keep your tackle ready. If the weather gives you a pretty day off; run, don't walk to the nearest fishin' hole!
Capt Larry Pentel
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