Report for Destin, Florida - Nearshore

Capt. Larry Pentel
May 28, 2000
Destin - Saltwater Fishing Report

OFFSHORE

The wind has blown Southwest at a good clip for the past week keeping me out of the Gulf. The big boats that have been getting out are limiting out on kings close in. I got 4 trips in up to last weekend before it really started to blow and we had great catches. The red snapper are still here in force and my clients had a blast catching thier share.Last Saturday I had a gentleman and his three adult sons who not only got a limit but 6 snappers were in the 6-10# range. They also had a mess of triggers and mingoes and a 10# Dolphin. Not bad for a 4 hour trip

The dolphin are showing up in close pretty good. There has been a lot of sargassum weed drifting in including some good size rafts of the stuff. I had big schools of little grasshopper dolphin around the boat each day. They have got to be the most fun fish to catch on a light fly rod or with little kids for anglers.

Speaking of kids. I took a family from Kentucky that included a an 8 year old and a 10 year old. The folks wanted the 10 year old to catch a big fish so he and I fished for a big bite. We hadn't fished for 10 minutes when he suddenly had all he could handle. After a very heated battle that had the fish in and out of the rock and my Jr. angler hanging on and winding for his life I gaffed a 14# Gag grouper. A great catch for a 10 year old and one he will remeber for years. The fish looked good in the box the family's snappers, triggers and mingoes.

INSHORE

Trout fishing this past week has been great. With the wind and seas keeping me out of the gulf I've run around the bay a little more than usual. While I havn't found any giant schools of fish there are lots of good size trout on the grass flats. I've also run into a lot of skipjacks and even some spanish.

As always I've caught larger fish throwing a big topwater lure and more fish throwing livebait. Yesterday I didn't have a trip so I took the new flats boat out by myself for a couple hours with a giant stickbait. I only caught 2 of the dozen or so strikes I had but one of 'em was pushing 5#. She's still out there none the worse for wear.

I've heard several Tarpon stories from out neighbors over Indian Pass way. I don't have a tarpon trip on the books untill the first week of July but..... I'm supposed to take my daughters fishing next Monday. I'll see if they want to go hunt a big silver king with the old man.

Get a big bottle of sunscreen and give me a call !! We'll get your string stretched real tight!!!!

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