Report for Destin, Florida - Nearshore

The weather has settled into what can only be described as perfect. Light offshores in the AM and a seabreeze in the PM to keep the temperature feeling just right. And the water is as clear as the air, just has a bit of blue/green tint to it. We were watching snappers come up 60 ft under the boat today. Course it's a lot easier to see 'em when they weigh 6-8#. We had 2 grouper, 10 triggers and a snapper limit (5# average. Pretty darn nice for a 1/2 day trip. I've got to fish everyday for the past week. A couple of days were sloppy at the beginning but nothing bad. Still lots of Red Snappers around but the "public" spots took a pounding this holiday weekend. I imagine anything left on them will be scared for the next few days. All the smaller wrecks and rocks have quality fish on them. We've had a limit( or could have when we held a slot open for a BIG fish) every day. Quite a few Black Snappers showing up also with most of them in the 5#+ range. The big schools of jacks have been getting hit but lots of legal ones (28" to the fork) left if your willing to cull a few 24-27's. The school dolphin are showing up too. I haven't run into a big wad of 'em yet but have picked up a few stragglers on the fly pole. That spinning rod out the back has also been responsible for the demise of quite a few kings and even a couple of 10# snappers this week. I even got to fish for a couple of drops today (locals on the boat) and got 3 downs in for triggers. I got a pair twice but only 1 the last drop. I hope I haven't lost my touch. Two of 'em were sure good for our dinner tonight-nothing better than fresh fish. Had snapper throats last night. The weather is great , the water crystal clear and the fish are biting- if your not fishin' now you might as well take up golf. Capt. Larry Pentel