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Report for Destin, Florida - Nearshore
Capt. Larry Pentel
February 13, 2000
Destin - Saltwater Fishing Report
OFFSHORE
The first 10 days of February could not have been better weather for fishing. I was lucky enough to spend 9 of them in the Gulf driving the " DEAD FISH " from wrecks to reefs. We had lots of action and I've gots lots to report.
There are not many fish on the shallow water spots. We tried several stops in 60 to 80 feet and even two of my honey holes. We caught 2 black grouper at one spot and couldn't even lose a bait elsehwere. Deeper water is a different story. Every big wreck I fished in 100 feet of water or more was covered up. Not just lots of fish but quality fish too.
I took my son along one day and had him on his knees ( at 14 he is 6 ft. tall and 200 lbs.) hanging on to a 6/0 with a big grouper on the other end. He fought a see-saw tug of war with that one for 10 minutes before the 125 lb. mono broke. He caught a nice one and several good size Amberjack off the same spot. I had 3 different people on different days catch the biggest snappers of their careers. One fellow had been trying to get one over 15 lb.s for 5 years till last week. Very few throwbacks, we only had a handfull of short grouper all week and the days we amberjacked fished over half were legal. One trip I had a fellow catch a grouper while fishing for jacks. Not unusual except we were in 125 ft. and he had his live rockfish bait about 75' off the bottom! A good fish too, about 20 lb. I wore a couple of folks out on jacks, " Okay Capt. lets go home, I've caught all I can."
All in all a wonderfull week and a half. If we can get another week just like that one I'm sure ready to go back. It sure is a treat having slick calm water in the winter, I've even got a little sunburn.
INSHORE
REMEMBER- Speckled trout are closed in Florida all of February. You can still catch and release but do not put one in the boat. Let the Marine Patrol spend their time elsewhere and not having to write you a ticket.
The weather went back to the usual February breezy this weekend and rather than fish Choctawhatchee Bay I went to our fish camp at Indian Pass. No tarpon in 60 degree water ( wait till July) but lots of redfish. I poled the big john boat along the mud flats between oyster bars while the man on the bow threw at all the redfish we spotted. Any sight fishing is exciting and when the fish are in less than a foot of water it's hard to be the calm captain and not fish too. After my bow man was happy and had his fill I got on the front for 10 minutes. I had three shots at the biggest redfish I've seen on the flats. The fish wasn't interested in my lure but didn't spook and we got a long close look. While I didn't catch him I don't think I've been that excited since cobia season. If the weather is to rough to go offshore next weekend I believe I'll be back with or without a charter and maybe take a busmans holiday.
Till next week, sunny skies and tight lines.
Capt. Larry Pentel
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