Spring Break Fishin' in South Walton

March 23, 2015 by Larry Pentel

The folks that have come this week for Spring Break certainly got the weather right. Man, it finally turned gorgeous! Upper seventies, blue skies and crystal blue-green water. This would pass for summer in a lot of the world!

I got to run a few more longer trips with the "fed boat" before spring break hit in earnest and I settled back into shorter family trips with all the 'breakers. I swapped boats and am running the DeadFish again, staying up in State waters and putting visitors on lots of fish that all the family can catch.

The cat boat is much easier for me to fish a bunch of folks catching a lot of fish and the bigger mono hull is better suited for the long runs offshore. It looks like I guessed right with the boat set up.

My spring break anglers have been catching LOTS of Vermillion Snappers with most trips getting a limit along with plenty of pinks. We have been releasing some fine Triggerfish about every trip.. wish we could keep a few of those but the feds have 'em closed for the year.

A few Scamps showing up and as soon as there is small live bait around we should be getting a good shot of those. The first (2) cobia were caught day 'for yesterday and the beach water is up to 65 degrees. With the current weather forecast of more warm, calm conditions for the foreseeable future the cobia, Spanish, bait, pompano etc should all be here in force within the next week or so. I can't wait to yell "There He Is!!" for that first cobia of the year on the DeadFish.

This gal had an unusual angling style... but she also had a broken foot in a cast and landed 5 fine jacks!

 

Her husband caught fish too but she definitely highlined.. injured and all!

 

These 2 guys caught a couple fine AJ's right away on a bouncy morning before we ran back inshore and got 'em some snappers.

 

My first afternoon trip of the year. Just a 2 hour but they caught the Snappers, along with a big octopus.

 

A foggy Spring Break trip with a box full of vermillions.

 

A couple jacks, some vermillions, pinks and happy anglers.

 

These Spring break kids were more than happy to show off a pair of Snapper and fine Trigger on a warm day.

 

These young ladies went on their first fishing trip with their dads in the Gulf and proved they could get 'em too.

 

An afternoon trip for the College Breakers (they sleep late) with a limit (40) of vermillion Snappers.

 

Get outside and enjoy Spring!!! If you can't justify it now after this past winter you need to move to Antarctica!

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Larry Pentel's picture

Captain Larry Pentel is a native of South Walton, growing up just 300 yards from the beach. Having fished the local waters for over 40 years, he is very familiar with all the different types of local fish, their habits, and most importantly - their habitats. Captain Larry is the owner of Dead Fish Charters

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