The Seasons Are Changing
Capt. Larry Pentel
October 27, 2009
Destin - Saltwater Fishing Report
Been a lot happening and changing on the fishing scene in the 10 days since my last report. The biggest change is of course the weather. The cold fronts have started making their way this far South and the times; they are a changing. The beach water temp has dropped 10 degrees in this time frame. This has caused the bait to start leaving the shallows and the big schools of pelagics always follow the food. The reef fish that eat the same critters have started moving in-- to intercept the bait that is moving out. It's such a great and simple system, I love being able to be a part of it every year!
The few days after my last report we were confined to fishing right up on the beach to hide from a howling North wind. This condition keeps it slick in close but way to rough to handle just a few miles offshore. Luckily the bait was still thick in close with lots of hungry critters chasin' 'em. On Saturday we boated and released a sailfish, kept a limit of Kings (10) and 2 big Spanish. We even came in an hour early 'cause it was chilly and we couldn't keep anymore fish. Sunday we boxed a limit of Kings and released several more. Both days we were never more than a half mile off the beach. Monday we found the bait much thinner in close but still landed and released another sail ( and no-- I don't have pics 'cause my crews never e-mailed 'em to me) and 3 Kings before going out a little deeper and bottom fishin'. We hunted around and found a good stand of vermilion snappers, putting 3 dozen in the box along with some pinks and trigs and fighting and releasing a big Bull shark
A bunch more Snappers in the box
Tues. and Wed. my son and I got to catch a bunch of fish ourselves, getting in a couple days of King fishing right before the end of the commercial season. Another front came thru and kept me on the hill for a few days doing chores while it was too rough to fish. Sat. I took a a couple regulars and 2 of their family and we had 3 groupers (2 right BIG ones) a dozen amberines, some triggers, 4 mackerels and a few odds and ends to make for a great box on a picture perfect fall day. Sunday I took a couple out that have fished this time of year with me for 10 years straight. Once again they came in with a great rack of fish and some sore arms. They were kind enough to invite my son along also since he was still in town. He returned the favor by making sure that the gal was fighting a fish all the time we were out.
Not only a nice rack but a bunch more in the box
The amberines have shown up in force. Pound for pound I don't think anything fights better, They fry up pretty good too, we ate a plate full last night for dinner! There are more groupers showing up in under 100 feet of water than we have seen since spring- a good sign of catches to come. The triggers are moving in as well with at least a few over the "magical" size of 14" to the fork each bottom trip. The flounders are just starting- one of the other Grayton boats went and tried for an hour the other afternoon and came in with 4. They said the biggest problem was the Red Snapper were on every spot they fished. If the water temp stabilizes in the high 60's the snapper will hopefully fall off the beach into a little deeper water letting the flounders gang up on the shallow spots. The Sails and Mahis' seem to have moved on , following the warmer water. The kings will stick around for another month or so but will be a little harder to find. If you find the bait, that's where the Kings will be. The good thing is they will be ganged up and you can really catch 'em quick this time of year when you find 'em.
I have heard a few reports from Indian Pass on the inshore fishing. The Red Fish are HOT with fish on the flats, around the oyster bars and in the holes (pretty much every where). The trout are biting with limit catches the norm but they still haven't really started balling up the shrimp yet and going into the full on fall feeding frenzy. Once again the water temp is just getting to the magic number---. I plan on being there the first weekend of Nov. to get in on some of the action.
See you on the beach !
Capt Larry Pentel
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