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Report for Destin, Florida - Nearshore
Capt. Larry Pentel
March 24, 2000
Destin - Saltwater Fishing Report
OFFSHORE
You want it we got it. Everything is showing up just like it's supposed to. The spanish are here in force and eating anything shiny you care to drag. I even saw a big school in the Destin harbor Thurs. AM complete with birds working the minnows they were driving to the surface.The cobia are here but the floodgates haven't opened yet. Most boats are seeing a few fish every day but a catch of three is still a big deal. The average size is good for this early in the run though, lots of fish in the 50# range. The big run will start any day with weather conditions looking perfect thruough the weekend. While the cobia aren't thick the jacks have made up for them in exciting sight fishing. There are huge shcools of jack cravelle ( 200 fish in a wad) moving down the bar to the west. Most fish are in the 20# range and are eager to hit a quickly retreived cobia jig or a live bait. The amberjacks are on the edges good and most boats targeting them are having no trouble getting a limit. There are even a few triggers showing up in the short water (75') and the size is much better than when they left in the winter. The deep water grouper fishing is fantastic. I made a 2 day trip with a friend who was short a crew member on the "Miss Kessa" and had the best grouper rally I've ever seen. We anchored up tuesday night on a big rock in 300' and caught a few big mingos and some amberines. The next moring we started fishing a little after daylight and by 9:30 had caught 42 black grouper! All these fish off one spot and the average size was 15#. Talk about some folks with sore arms.
Red Snapper season opens up in state waters the 15th of next month and the fish seem to be cooperating. After months of barren spots in close the last front seems to have pushed the snappers back to the beach. Lots of fish within 5 miles of the beach. I'm going to check a couple of spots in 50' of water tomorrow morning before cobia fishing. I believe they should be packing. Anyone wanting to light tackle ( bass tackle) a limit of Snapper call and book a trip after the 15th. I'll show you just how far you can bend a 1/4 inch of graphite. I've got a trip booked for a lady who wants to catch a Snapper on her fly rod. I haven't tried that one yet but it should be a real exciting day. Always gets the adreninlin going when your after a record.
INSHORE
Dont' have a boat, a little short to charter this week? Go the pier or the jetties, lots of action if you have the time and patience to wait for the fish to come to you. I picked my son up at the pier the other evening ( he had his 10 fish mackeral limit) and there were two people fighting good size sharks having a good a time as can be had. The pompano must be with the cobia as they havn't really showeed hot and heavy yet . I've heard reports of big schools off St. George Island this week so they should be here any day.
I haven't heard any reports on trout and haven't seen any under my dock light yet but... I'd love to tell you where they are but then I'd have to kill you. Can't let out to many secrets or I couldn't make my trips. Take my word for it, they're here too.
This is a good time to take those kids fishing. Spanish are fun, easy to catch and you can get a bunch of 'em. Perfect for little guys who need lots of shots to learn how.
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