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Report for Destin, Florida - Nearshore
Capt. Larry Pentel
May 2, 2000
Destin - Saltwater Fishing Report
OFFSHORE
This is the best job in the world when the fish are biting and the clients are happy. This past week sure proved the point. I ran 4 four hour bottom trips and had a full cooler of fish every day. Monday and Tuesday had high winds and seas so I stayed on the hill. Wednesday I ran a group from Ohio who "just wanted to catch a mess of fish". They caught a limit of red snappers and some triggers. One fellow wanted a shot at a big fish so I rigged him up with a grouper rod. Score: Grouper 2, Ohio 0 . It's fun to watch someone yell " I can't lift the rod" though. Thursday I took 3 folks from Memhpis. After 8 nice snappers were in the box they asked if they could let the rest go or maybe fish for something else. Not the usual request but; sure, so we went and caught a dozen triggers. They had a great time but said it was too easy. The fish bit immediately and "it just wasn't fair". Okay- I got the spinning rods out and started to mackeral fish. Right away we caught a 18# king and the rally was on. We caught 8 King Mackeral (released 4) and watched freejumping fish skyrocket all around the boat. To top the bite off the last two fish we caught were 5# Dolphin that put on wonderful acrobatics (both released) It was now about a quarter to noon so I told them the 4 hr. trip was up and we needed to run in. They said they were having a great time and wanted to stay out for two more hours but could we fish for something that would let them sit down and drink a beer? Sure!! We'll go look for cobias. ( I figured with these folks luck we'd find a wad of 20.) It wasn't to be though. They got to kick back and drink a cold one and talked about how amazing it was all these fish were right in front of where they were staying. When I dropped them off they were already talking about booking a couple more trips later in the year. Friday blew up again so it was chore day. Saturday I had folks from Nashville with a snapper limit, some triggers( one at 8#!) and a nice green eyed gag grouper. I dropped the party off at thier beach house and drove the sandbar the 4 miles back to the truck. It was my turm to catch a fish when a 30# cobia popped up right ahead of the boat and obligingly gobbled up my jig. I don't mind being a little late getting home, really. Sunday had a boat load of locals wanting to get in on the snapper action. We tallied 23 nice Red Snapper, 11 Trigger fish and a bucketfull of good size b-liners. The two girls on the trip said they didn't know if they were more tired from lifting and winding or screaming and exitement.
Monday I got to cobia fish all day. My angler had been three times this year this year and hadn't even got see a fish. We broke his hex with a pair of nice fish that cruising along with a big turtle. Two cobia and two sunburns, not a bad day.
I love this job!!
INSHORE
The pompano are still center stage inshore action. While probably not as thick as 2 weeks ago they are still on the best run anyone can remember. I have heard some good trout reports from down the sound towards Navarre but not much out in the Bay. I tink that will probably change this week though. I woke up this morning to see four shrimpers anchored up right in front of my house. If the shrimp have moved up to the dropoff on the South side of the bay the specks shouldn't be but a day or two behind. While not as eager to hit a topwater while feeding on shrimp they are still suckers for the old green tailed jig and easier to catch on a fly.
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