Dead Fish report - Capt. Larry Pentel

Same. So it's legal to induce lead poisoning?

I don't think the lead bullet resulted in much pain and suffering for the Bull Shark, but I'm not sure on the hunting season for Bull Sharks, or if they have requirements on how you harvest your catch. Captain Larry is one of the kind of guys who follows the rules, so my guess is that shooting the shark was within the means of the law. Who knows, maybe he used a lot of lead on the sinker, weighting down the hook. :idontno: :funn:

I don't think the lead bullet resulted in much pain and suffering for the Bull Shark, but I'm not sure on the hunting season for Bull Sharks, or if they have requirements on how you harvest your catch. Captain Larry is one of the kind of guys who follows the rules, so my guess is that shooting the shark was within the means of the law. Who knows, maybe he used a lot of lead on the sinker, weighting down the hook. :idontno: :funn:

My thoughts too...that would have to be one heavy sinker.:lolabove:


I woul love to go out with the Capt someday. Of course Mr OL would insist on chaperoning.😀

Fishing Report for:
Destin, Florida (nearshore).
Updated: July 14, 2007.

"Houston, we have ignition !!"


The Tarpon show the past 5 days has been as good as it gets. There are LOTS of fish and they are coming in all sizes. My son, Capt William (Fried Fish Charters) leadered one up 2 days ago about 60# while the day before I pulled a scale off one 'bout 180# for my angler. Not just one or 2 year classes of fish here. Most fish are still in the 120-130# range but I have allready seen several over 200#
I took the first 4 days here at Indian Pass "off". This just means I didn't get up early and run charters- I still went fishin' for at least a couple hours every day! I love to sight fish so I chased the tripletails with pretty good success. Got 2 to the boat in the 18# class that first week. I tagged about a dozen and killed a few for the dinner table--they do eat good!.
Naturally the weather turned about when my charters started and the first couple Tarpon trips I ran the fish were not on the feed. Everybody still had fun tho catchin' sharks and tripletails.
When the fish showed back they came on fierce. We have put at least a couple fish in the air everyday lately. Now this is Tarpon fishin' so we don't get to touch everyone we hook. There is a lot that can go wrong in a fight that can last 3 or 4 hours. These big fish jump for a reason and that's to try to get free of that pesky hook. Quite often they succeed! Capt Tim Harvey (who has done real well on the 'poons this week) had one tail whip the line yesterday over an hour and half into the fight. They had allready pulled a scale from a 110# fish tho and went on to jump several more but---- after over an hour you usually figure you got 'em with anything but a Tarpon !
Some of the of the high points of the past week were the Tarpon "show" yesterday that lasted almost all morning. You could look around the boat for several hours and see dozens of fish over 100# with some part out of the water if not completely airborn! What a feeding frenzy! The other was getting a call from Capt Pete White on the radio 2 afternoons before that the Tarpon had just turned on like gangbusters and he had jumped 2 fish in the past 5 minutes. My anglers had allready boated a fish 'bout 125# earlier in the day so we had gone up the bay lookin' for 'tails. I hit it up on a plane as fast as we could go listening to Pete give me details. He got one stuck good and had to stop talkin' and drive the boat. My son had picked up and ran to where Pete was and radioed saying they had hooked immediately upon getting to the fish and had one up and jumping. After a 15 minute run that seemed like an hour we made to where they were fighting fish,pitched out baits and we hooked up right away! The 3 of us played dodge boats with lots of good views of the other guys fish jumping as well as our own. Lots of cheers every time one would sky rocket. With almost perfect timing we each leadered up our fish and got pictures made for perfect releases- all 3 fish around 125#!
Not that I want to chase 'em right now but William ran a redfish trip yesterday (in my flats boat- whats a son for if not to borrow dad's stuff) and did pretty good. The trout reports have not been that great from the guides I spoken with. A few keepers and lots of shorts.
Who wants to chase a 2# trout when you could jump a 200# Tarpon with a mile or 2 anyway!!!

Capt Larry Pentel

Fishing Report for:
Destin, Florida (nearshore).
Updated: October 14, 2007.



In the 10 days since my last report I have run a trip everyday. Some days were a lot calmer than others but it was fishable!
The red tide has moved over from Panama city and now extends all the way to Pensacola. Not one solid Gulf full of bloom but spotty and at different depths. There are a few areas offshore where the fish were stacked up pretty good and are now devoid of life on the bottom. If you move a couple miles everything seems pretty normal. Hopefully these fish are swimming off and are not just lying dead on the bottom. There have not been many fish washing up on the beach here.
The King bite got pretty hot on the beach right after my last report but the red tide has moved them on. I caught bait real good the past two mornings after not having any around for few days so hopefully the kings will come back in close chasing the cigar minnows. We caught a 20# king day 'fore yesterday on a grouper bait on the bottom in 90 feet so I know they are still here.
Todays trip was a half day with 4 folks that come every year. Started out a little sloppy and ended up downright rough. On top of that we had 2 dolphins that attached themselves to us eating every big snapper we could get off the bottom. Pretty frustrating when you finally get the big bite just to feed that fish to a freeloader! My crew persevered and we came in with 14 nice Red Snappers. I hate coming in 2 short of a limit but we were all tired of battling the seas. A lot harder to hold the boat on a spot in a 20 knot breeze and a swell than when it's slick!
Still quite a few groupers around. We have been getting a lot of good ones to bite (lost 3 today and more than twice that yesterday)- as always most of 'em catch the angler unaware -expecting a snapper and not ready for a freight train that runs straight into the reef. About a week ago I ran a group of regulars that are experienced anglers on a half day. We got our 20 fish snapper limit, everybody took a turn on the grouper rod and landed a good one including a Red pushing 20# and 3 nice gags. It was getting sloppy (been a lot of that lately!) so we ran in to the beach to finish out the last hour and half trollin' and added 5 kings to the box. A fantastic box of fish for half day. I always say I'd rather be lucky than good but it does make a difference when you have some experience at both ends of the fishing line! I figure we fried all the dumb fish years ago- just the smart ones left now!
Get on out-- if you pull up to your favorite spot and don't see show just move inshore or offshore a few miles. Chances are you'll find 'em stacked up!
Capt Larry Pentel

Fishing Report for:
Destin, Florida (nearshore).
Updated: January 15, 2008.



Today was a beautiful day in the middle of January. I got to take advantage of it by running a couple of regulars from New Orleans. They flew in this morning , got on the boat at 10 AM and by 3PM We were making fish pictures on the beach. It was slick calm and let me run to a few spots that I hadn't been to in a while. After a slow start we hit a couple that were packin'. The amberjack bite was strong enough that I beat my anglers into submision. They called it quits---Luckily we hit a grouper spot first.

The proof is in the pictures. The groupers are a great grade and a 36# cobia is a fantastic bonus fish any day!

Of course you have to wade though some fine Red Snappers to catch a few Groupers!Uncle says they all have to back!
I ran a little trout trip at Indian Pass on Sunday. Plenty of fish but most were short as is normal for winter. We did find a few nice ones mixed in including 3 in the 20" range. I got to look for redfish on Monday AM before having to come back to Grayton to run Tues.. Even poling the boat and casting from the platform by myself I managed to get 4 to eat. A pretty good trick in a 20 knot wind ! I was supposed to run a flyfisherman that morning but we cancelled, a good call. Trying to hit the 6 inch strike zone of a red with your line blowing back in your face would have been frustrating !

If you get the weather- you otta go!
Capt Larry Pentel

2/5/08

It's still winter even in Florida which means the weather is unpredictable. I got to run offshore with some locals Sunday and we found the Amberjacks more than willing to play. We caught a pile, most of 'em legal size and threw back all but our limit of 1 per person. When everyone was sufficently wore out Iwent and tried a couple grouper holes. Unfortunately they were not as eager to bite as the jacks and we only landed one. A nice red though that was all this gal could pick up! We hit the beach before noon and got to enjoy one of those beautiful days that makes it all worth while.



A couple of the Jacks, We caught over a dozen-

I ran a Father son trip up the intercoastal yesterday and one of my regulars tagged along as well. We found the trout after a bit bunched up pretty good in a 12' hole at a bend in the channel. We landed around 35 but no big ones. As they are closed in Feb. it didn't matter much as the goal was get a young angler into some fish. We released all the trout along with 3 redfish that joined the action. Always great to take a kid and watch 'em figure it out. This young man had casting down QUICK but had to work through the usual timing issues of setting the hook with a lure. By the end of the trip he had it down was catching fish on artificials as well as the adults.



Another happy angler

I had run up the "ditch" about a week ago when trout were still open but we couldn't get 'em to bite very well. The ones we got were a larger grade than yesterday but we only landed 6. My 2 anglers still got to stretch thier strings tho as we found a pretty good school of reds. We managed to boat 15, releasing 'em all and just keeping trout for dinner.

The inshore fish are in the on again/off again mode this time of yesr. Just because your usual honey hole dosn't draw a sniff don't despair. With the barometer bouncing like a pinball along with the temps this time of year the bite can turn on a dime. Hit a range of spots in the areas you know there are fish. They may be in the bottom of a deep hole one day and 200 yards away on a flat the next. Same school of fish, just reacting to the rapidly changing winter weather-. Once you find an area with fish they are pretty much going to be close by there till the water warms in the spring.

Good luck and keep your tackle ready. If the weather gives you a pretty day off; run, don't walk to the nearest fishin' hole!

Capt Larry Pentel

Capt. Larry Pentel
February 17, 2008
Destin - Saltwater Fishing Report


We have been fortunate to have had some very pretty days for February. I have had folks wanting to take advantage of the opourtunity so we have been blasting offshore. The amberjacks are in thier usual wrecks for mid winter and are more than willing to play tug-o-war. A school of healty AJ's makes my life a lot easier. Any time I can beat down my anglers and put a few nice fish in the box at the same time I get to look good!

The beach water has warmed up about 4-5 degrees since I wrote last. Still way to cold (64) for there to be any fish up in close but spring is right around the corner. In the meantime I'll keep running a little further and fishing a little deeper.



This was right before Groupers closed in Federal waters on the 15th. A nice rack but we broke off over a dozen big groupers !

Remember-- if you make that run offshore you can't keep a grouper till March 15th!



This fellow caught a bunch of Aj's and kept his 1 limit. Told me he didn't care to keep anything else, just catch and release so I put him on the Snappers! He had a blast



Another nice thing 'bout Jack fishing-- There can be cobias mixed in! No the run hasn't started, but there will be scattered fish mixed w/the AJ's for the next couple months



This father son team had never been before. When they got on the boat I asked 'em if they wanted big fish, lottsa fish or a freezer trip. They wanted it all; on a half day! We went and did the AJ thing till they were tired and then caught pinks and trigs and released a bunch of Red Snapper and a dozen scamps. Still made it back to the beach at lunchtime.

With Trout, Red Snappers and Groupers ( federal water) all closed right now it kinda limits the options a little. Don't fret what you can't keep, plenty of fish out there for dinner. You can only eat so many anyway. AND the more you let go now the sooner the freezer is empty and you'll have to go again!

Speaking of freezer fishin'. I have heard some great reports on the sheepshead bite. I have not been yet this year but am trying to get a trip up to chase 'em. A pain to clean but boy do they taste good! So many fish, and only 2 or 3 pretty days a week in February. Don't waste a one!!!! Get out there and catch something!

Capt Larry Pentel

Dead Fish Charters

Capt. Larry Pentel
March 4, 2008
Destin - Saltwater Fishing Report


Trout season opened in Northwest Florida to a beautiful spring day. I took a couple out at Indian Pass to see if the fish were in a cooperative mode after all the recent rains. The tide was pouring in and the fish just happened to be in the first spot I tried. We caught about 30 or so keeping 7 and then went looking around to see if we could get some oysters. The tide had come in too much and all the good bars were under water so we went back to throwing jigs and got a repeat on the action finishing out our 15 fish limit. No big fish but lots of 'em. Every fish we caught was in the 14 1/2 to 17 inch range with most of 'em about 14 3/4. They seem to know when to stop growin'!

A keeper!

The fruits of opening day.

we went out again the next morning (early) and picked up our oyster limit while the tide was low. Threw a few times for trout but only had a couple bites. I think the water was still a little too fresh for 'em to feed- my folks didn't want to keep any more anyway so we went back to the fish camp and had oysters for lunch!

Out in the Gulf the Jacks are still doing thier thing. This was part of a fine box of fish from a week ago. We caught a couple fine grouper (one over 25#) while Jack fishing in Federal waters that had to be released along with a 17# Red Snapper. After everybody was beat down from the Amberjacks we moved up in shore and found some groupers to bite where it's legal to keep 'em along with 8 Triggers and this small shark. The trigger bite seems to finally be improving a little.
No excuses now- Trout are back open, the sheepsheads are thick at any big inshore structure- the AJ's'll hit anything that wiggles and a triggerfish fillet is one of the best things you can put in your mouth. Get out there and fish!
capt Larry Pentel

Capt. Larry Pentel
March 27, 2008
Destin - Saltwater Fishing Report


Sorry I haven't had a report up sooner but I did go through the effort and wrote one a week ago--- The computer ate my homework I reckon !
The weather has been very blustery the past few weeks. I'm on the hill today 'cause the weathermans' forecast of 10 to 15 with 1 to 3 foot seas turned into 15 to 20 with 3 feet of chop on top of the sea. I told the 2 Dads and 2 boys that were going to go that it was supposed to be fun ! We have had some pretty days mixed in that have produced some great fishin' trips. Some have been warm and spring like and others cold and blustery but we have managed to come in with a good box of fish everday none the less.

It was blowin' 30 knots out of the NorthWest this day so my crew and I stayed right on the beach and caught a fish fry worth of Spanish and blues. These young anglers had a blast on a day that was unfishable a mile offshore!

This Dad and Son crew show off some fine Groupers they tagged teamed. Dad would hook 'em up- get 'em 10 ft. up and hand off the rod. This young man also caught a bunch of Red Snappers on his own including one at 12#

These 4 young men were on a Birthday Party trip. They fillied the box with Pink Snappers along with some Vermillions and Triggers and a big Red Grouper.

This crew from Ohio kept talking about catching Perch in Lake Erie when we started. They decided that Snappers, Triggers and Groupers bit a lot faster and pulled a lot harder!


It dosn't matter that you can't keep for another couple weeks- They sure are fun to catch!
The cobia run still hasn't really started. All this cool weather has the beach water stil around 63. It is supposed to be close to 80 for an air temp for the next week so I imagine that the flood gates will open up here right soon. The Pompano have shown up and in good numbers. I went down to the beach 2 evenings right at sunset and got fish both days. Some of the "beach boys" puttin' the time in have racked 'em up. The Spanish are still hit and miss with more on the miss side. Once again this is a temperature thing and will show in force in the next week. While I have not been on the "inside" myself for the past 2 weeks the neighbors I have have talked to say the trout are slow also. The fish started to move out of the rivers and holes and then the temps fell again putting 'em into a holding pattern. They are looking for a little warmth too I think--
Put new line on if you haven't allready 'cause it's fxin' to get stretched a bunch. We are right on the start of another spring fishin' bonanza!
Capt Larry Pentel

Capt. Larry Pentel
April 15, 2008
Destin - Saltwater Fishing Report


Boy. it has sure been a blowy spring! We have had some great days on the water but I think I have had to cancel as many days as I have got to run. The fish don't care and will bite as long as you can hold on though!
The cobia run has been hit and miss so far this year mainly due to weather. We finally had a pretty day today and they showed up good and hungry. Today was the opening day of Red Snapper season. My crew and I went bottom fishing 1st and then fell back inshore to search for cobia. One of those days when it all came together. My anglers got a limit of Snapper in the 6 to 10# range along with 2 nice Groupers. We found a single cobia on a big turtle that charged a bait as hard as I have ever seen. After doing battle and intoducing him to a nice icy fish box we went on and found a "wad" of at least 8 more fish. We somehow managed to get all our fish to the boat without any major mishaps other than lots of exited yelling. I was wanting to hook up more fish (one stayed with the boat for a half hour while we fought the hooke ones) but with a limit in the box my folks opted to go in, take pictures and drink some celebratory beers. A wonderfull opening day.

The fish box wouldn't quite shut !
Yesterdays crew was mostly novices that wanted to catch big fish more than fill the box. We were fortunate and found a big school of Jack Crevalle in the 15 to 30# range. As anybody who has tangled with 'em knows, thay are a great sport fish on spinning tackle. We stayed with the school for over 2 hours and were able to sight cast to 'em landing 12 and losing several more. Those and a few bonita gave my anglers and good workout.

Is it a fish or a bulldog?
The spanish bite has been pretty ferocious. Lots of limit catches and lots of happy fishermen. I had a cobia trip last week that drew a blank after looking for a few hours so I switched gears and put out the spoons- we had a limit of mackeral (45 that day) in less than 2 hours. Some fast fishin'.
On the beach the pompano have showed in force. While I spend lots of time on the water I don't get to catch fish myself most days. In the past couple weeks I have made it back to the beach 'bout sunset 8 days after the boat and gear are cleaned and put up. Six days out of those times I have caught fish (pomps and redfish). Gotta love springtime!!!
The bite will just get better over the next few weeks. The cobia seem to finally have shown in numbers. We can keep some Snappers instead of thrown' back all the big uns and the Kings have shown up also. While there is always something to catch it dosn't get much better than the next month !!

This one bit a grouper bait a couple days before the opening. Throwning him back was easy with some groupers allready in the box though!
Get up and go!!! Try as I might I can't seem to catch 'em all. I need some help!
Capt Larry Pentel

Capt. Larry Pentel
April 28, 2008
Destin - Saltwater Fishing Report


The weather and the fish have finally decided it's full on Spring. I have run 13 days out of the past 2 weeks and the catches have just been getting better and better right along with the weather.
Day before yesterday was a trip I won't forget anytime soon. A couple of cobia season regulars with some buddies from Louisiana that want to fill the box with bottom fish and then find a cobia or 2. We were in the middle of a snapper rally 1st thing in the morning with the bull sharks stealing most of our biggest fish. One of my crew gets a big bite and after 10 minutes is convinced he has a shark. I had watched the bite and said it sure didn't act like a shark when it hit. After a 2o minute fight with the angler wearing down and the crew wanting to cut of the "shark" the fish finally came up to the top where we could see what it was. What a fish! A huge cobia that wasn't really tired yet- just wanted to see what was ruining breakfast. My angler suddenly had a burst of second wind energy and things got chaotic with lots of yelling by the crew and me looking for the perfect shot with the gaff. All the stars lined up just right and after another 10 minutes I was able to stick the fish solidly enough to drag it (with some help !) over the rail. I was calling it 100# and was probably more exited than the angler. We went on to catch a great limit of Red Snapper, 4 Black Snapper (including 2 over 10#) a grouper, a king and then went to the beach and found a "regular cobia" sight fishing that was more than willing to co-operate. When we made it to the beach at 1PM and hung the fish she pulled the scales down to 104#. The first cobia over 100 I have ever had the pleasure to be involved with and, as I said, the fish of a lifetime!

What a Fish!!
While that one was exceptionally huge the fish count was pretty average for last week!!. We had several days where we had a great catch of bottom fish and then came in to the beach to successfully catch cobia by sight fishin' 'em. It's hard to say which bite is better right now!!

What a board! and it was a 4 1/2 hour trip! Back on the trailer at noon!

Another "perfect" 1/2 day trip! This fellow flew over just to go fishing for the day !
Not everybody likes to cobia fish (I know, hard to understand). I ran one trip last week where they just wanted to bottom dig- We ran out a little deeper and found the groupers starvin' on several spots. We landed 4 nice ones along with our snappers and some banjo sized triggers.

This one made it to the boat- we probably lost 4 to every 1 we landed this day!
And, as if it wasn't hard enough to decide what to chase already--- The kings have shown up in force! The past couple days have had HUGE schools of herring and cigar minnows all up along the beach. The toothy predators are right behind 'em sending showers of scales in the air. We have seen several (big ones) swimming right down the bar while we were looking for cobia. I've flipped a "flyline" out several times and been hit almost immediately
If all this doesn't get you excited enough to get off the couch and get out there I figure you must be a golfer!
Capt Larry Pentel

Added to home page - http://SoWal.com

Capt. Larry Pentel
May 9, 2008
Destin - Saltwater Fishing Report


All the skinny kids with surfboards are out today so I get a day off to fix all that tackle and write a report. The only "bad" day of fishin' this time of year is the day the surf is too rough to launch the boat----.
The cobia run seems to have wound down. The last couple days we went and looked I did not see any. I have heard a few reports of fish being caught but the big push of fish seems to have come through. I'll keep a rod rigged with a big jig and another with a mono leader and a big live bait hook for the next few weeks still. You never know when you are going to come across that wad of a dozen just milling around. It seems like it happens to me at least once every May!

These ladies had a great time catching these bottom dwellers and then got to tussle with a fine cobia. Unfortunately the angler got out horse-powered and gave out before the fish did!
All the other species are right on schedule and more than willing to play. We are catching Red Snappers darn near everywhere we fish and releasing most. The nice thing about the smaller limit is we can be a little selective and just keep a few bigger fish. I had one group last week that said they figured they came out with the same weight in snapper fillets as they would have had the limits not changed-- We just kept fish that were twice as big as the past few years!
The kings are here with a lot of the fish being a good grade. Being Kings they have that on/off switch that gets flipped fairly regularly but when it's in the on mode there are a lot of 20#-30# fish ending up in the box. We quit bottom fishin' with about 45 minutes left on a half day last week and my client said I was being optimistic to chase kings in that time -- We quickly boated 3 and missed 2 more before heading back to the trailer. He was quite pleased and took one straight from the boat to the kitchen-- said those snappers would freeze just fine and he was looking forward to fresh fried mackerel for lunch!

Snappers, Groupers, Triggers and Kings. Not much time to do anything but wind!!

Another species that has shown back up are the triggers. Kind of conspicuous in their absence this winter the past week they have shown up right back on the beach. Three days ago I had a fellow run a 3 hook rig and catch 6 keepers and a bunch of shorts. Two days ago we came in with 19 keepers, about half were in the "large" grade. Yesterday we had one that was pushing 10 pounds. I was calling it a 15# snapper from the way it was fighting!! They should stick around 'till the water gets hot in July or so. A few of those tasty critters are a welcome addition to any box of fish!!

Those triggers will be might tasty after marinating in hot p-nut oil! The lanes and the big vermillions sure make some great "bonus" snappers as well!
The hardtails have shown up on the beach this past week as well. While this make it WAY harder for me to have a tank full of live cigar minnows and herring in the well in the morning it should bring a push of amberjacks in close. Most years the jacks show up in force a week to 10 days after the 'tails. If there is a better bait to get an AJ to eat than a hardtail I sure haven't found it!!!
Fishing is great, the forecast is just for it to get better with more options in easy reach of the beach as the water warms. Get on out there and catch something!!
Capt Larry Pentel

Capt. Larry Pentel
May 20, 2008
Destin - Saltwater Fishing Report


For the past week the King Mackerel have been ferocious. There were a couple mornings where you about had to hide the hooks and bait under the rail before you threw it over! Alas, this morning they just didn't want to chew. They are still there as we had several "short" strikes where the kings just clipped the tail off the baits but somehow managed to elude the 6 hooks back there. Kings have that on/off switch that is either one way or the other in the summer. It sure was fun this week when it was in the ON position!

A limit of Kings first thing and then off to bottom fish- the perfect half day trip!
Still lots of Snappers around and the grouper bite has been pretty good as well. If we didn't bring in a grouper or several lately it hasn't been the fishes fault. They are crafty though and we fried all the dumb ones years ago. The smart ones are all that are left and the bigger they are the smarter they are!

This crew of locals (and wannabe locals) managed to outwit a great board of fish on a 6 hour
Still a few cobias around though not really running the beach. We have been fortunate to catch several the past couple weeks that just swam up to while bottom fishing or were on the top in the same area as the boat--- yesterday we were running in (at 20 knots) and I glanced over and saw one cruising along about 4 miles offshore. I throttled down, turned the boat and climbed up the tower as fast as I could. After about 10 minutes of looking we found him, right back cruising on top. I pitched a live cig and he inhaled it. My angler did a great job of fighting him but when he came to the boat I grabbed the leader rather than gaff him and threw
'em on the cooler lid. Sure enough- about an eight inch short of the magic 33" fork length. Oh well- we'll get 'em next year when he weighs 50 lb.s!

A nice cobia is a welcome addition to an already great catch
There has also been a lot of grass floating around inshore with schooly dolphins bunched up around any big piece of trash in the weed lines. We have had a couple trips where we wore 'em out. Not only are they beautiful colors and acrobatic jumpers but they fry up pretty darn good too!
Lots of different choices. Just be ready for anything this time of year. While I'd ALWAYS rather be lucky than good a lot of luck is being prepared for your opportunities!
Only 5 weeks till Tarpon Season!!!!!-- All these fish and so little time!

Capt Larry Pentel

Capt. Larry Pentel
June 1, 2008
Destin - Saltwater Fishing Report


Last report my fishing forecast was "getting better all the time". I got lucky and nailed it! The end of May, beginning of June is usually one of the times when EVEYTHING bites. This past 10 days has been proof. We have been getting getting our usual assortment of bottom fish every day but the King Bite has been incredible as well and a big push of Sargasso weed has a lot of pelagics up inshore also. I think we either limited out on kings or quit fishing for 'em to chase other stuff everyday the past week!

This was today's catch- limit of kings- some snapper a grouper, spanish and 2 nice dolphin- on a 4hr!
Yesterday I started out slow trolling live baits for kings and was getting frustrated when we missed the first 3 bites. The 4th pass around the bait school we hooked up and quickly realized why we were missing the strike-- we had a Sailfish up and jumping!! Not but a mile from the truck the fish put on a great acrobatic show on a spinning rod before I leadered 'em up and my folks took pics. About 5 1/2- 6 feet long and probably 40# he sure made our day.

Not in this pic is the Sail we released first thing. We caught the limit Kings right after---
This group of "cajuns" said "Darn Straight" when I asked if they wanted to eat the Bull Shark that ate a grouper on the way up. So we put 'em in the boat and filleted that bad boy right up.

I think they needed a bigger cooler for the fillets---The great thing about a cajun is I know they'll eat it all!

This family has fished with me for years and just came back from a year in New Zealand- The 2 girls that are my "students" are capable anglers and probably caught 1/2 the fish on the board, with little help other than advice!

Another group that I've fished with for 10 years or so and a fine 4 hr catch
The bite should stay good till the water gets hot or the weather changes --- at least for another week or so!
Capt Tim Harvey called me this afternoon from Indian Pass and said the Tarpons have arrived!!!!!
I'm booked here till the end of June but will be there July 1st to start launching those big silver missiles. I still have some days open in July -if you want a shot at a trophy Tarpon give me a call,
So many Fish-- Not enough hours in the Day!!!
Get off this computer and go!!!

Capt Larry Pentel

Hey!!! There is Tim and Dominique, and Jack and Cale. Some of my Florida Vacation group!!! I knew they were in Grayton last week, and I knew Tim was going fishing!! Looks like he caught a few. 😀:clap:Yeah, because I will get to eat some of them next month while we are down. Thanks for the report Daddy-O!!!!

:cool:

Capt. Larry Pentel
June 15, 2008
Destin - Saltwater Fishing Report


The weather has turned to full on summer but the fishing is still as hot as the air. The King bite remains as good most days as it ever gets and there are still quite a few pelagics up in close to the beach.
I ran 2 dads and 2 boys who had never been with me before last week and we had "one of those days". Luckily it was one of those GREAT days. We had the usual assortment of bottom fish and Kings but we also landed a Wahoo 'bout 40# while King fishing. Quite the surprise as we were only 3 miles off the beach! An hour latter we were fishing for some (big) Black snapper and landed a 34# cobia, right after a pair of 12# Blacks! I think these folks will be back----

One of the best and most assorted 4 hour catches of the season-
As I said- the Kings are still HOT! I love a good Mackerel rally and it's even better when I've got kids on the boat. A young teenager and a hot bite has everybody yelling and scrambling and learning how to fish real fast! Great "on the job training" when they bite as fast as you can get the bait out. Plus we can fit a LOT of catchin' in a half day!

This group caught 17 kings (we released several that were not hooked bad)before going bottom fishing. The boys caught 'bout all of 'em.

These folks fish with me several days every year. They said they had 22 to feed and wanted a box full for a couple fish fry's. Mission accomplished!
Still some Grouper around as well. Just smart ones though-. We lost several fines ones yesterday and a REAL one today. If you are not ready when that bite happens or you make one mistake, it's all over quick. catchin' 'em in "shallow" water is way harder than deep. My crew 2 days ago had a couple anglers that did everything just right on some good bites tho and added 4 nice Gags to an all ready great 1/2 day catch.

Check out the "partial" Grouper- A bull shark almost got 'em all!
The kings will stay good till we get a different batch of water in from a weather change. The snappers will probably start to move off a little pretty soon as the water temp is up to 86 on the beach now. Probably be having to fish more in 80 feet plus 'stead of less pretty soon-. As long as we keep getting these pushes of Sargasso weed in the mahis and other offshore critters will be in on the beach for a while.
Less han 2 weeks and I'm off to chase Tarpons. As great as the fishing is here I'm looking forward to launching some fish over 200#! Not to mention tripletails. With the possible exception of sight fishing cobias tripletail fishin' gets me more excited than anything-. My son (capt William Pentel) called 2 days ago and said he had a 15# tripletail at the end of a trout trip in the bay- said capt Dan Davis went huntin''em in the Gulf and came in with 4 that were pushin' 60# total!!!!
Did I mention I'm excited?!!! Last year I had anglers land quite a few 'tails over 20#. If the "grass" keeps pushin' in the big fish should keep stackin' up over there-
I still have a few days in July including a couple 'round the 4th-. Give a call if you want to see "old Florida" at Indian Pass!
Capt Larry Pentel

Capt. Larry Pentel
July 14, 2008
Apalachicola - Saltwater Fishing Report


I have been here at Indian Pass for 2 weeks now and the fishing has been fantastic. The weather has had us running from the thunderbumpers a little but we haven't lost a day (or a fish) to the squalls yet--.
The Tarpon are here !! All sizes from 75# "easy" fish to the 200#+ "OH NO !! " fish. We have had a fish to the boat everyday but 2 since the 1st of the month. Both those days we had (big) Fish on but they won the battles. Remember, they jump for a reason and anything that can fight you for over an hour without tiring is trying it's best to get away!!
Yesterday we did not boat a Tarpon (had a good one on for 6 jumps but he won). My angler did however fight a tripletail for over 30 minutes that we did boat. A great trophy of a fish that weighed 26#!!!! Caught on 12# test and a light spinning rig it made the day. My angler made a great cast and did a perfect presentation. He had whipped a 115# Tarpon the day before in under 45 minutes so I knew he was up to "trophy" fishin'!
I took the 4th off and play fished with my son , capt Will. Naturally we went sight fishing for 'tails. We found 16 and boated 6 in 4 hours. He had a 15# and a 17# fish on 8# tackle and I landed a 22# fish on 12# !!!. We kept the big fish for table fare and tagged the other 5 before releasing 'em. That is the biggest 'tail I have ever got to catch myself. All the other fish over 20# I have ever hooked I had to hand off to a client. Needless to say I am very proud of that fish.
The Tarpon fishing should just get better and better as the water warms, same with the 'tails. We have not had a "banner" day with the Tarpon yet averaging 2 fish a day in the air. I can feel it coming soon though and hope to be in the middle of one of those double digit days of silver rockets over 100#.
I'm afraid I don't have access to upload pictures over here. When I get back to Seagrove in August I'll post pic's of some of the monsters. Just to show off if for no other reason !!
Give me a call and come spend the night at the fish camp. I'll put you next to some fish that'll have your heart pounding for hours!!!
Capt Larry Pentel