Fishing

Whew, 4th of July and it's busy! I took the afternoon off to fix broke stuff and get off a very crowded beach.

Fishing is still good, lots of Red Snappers. We even had a REAL one this morning, about 25 pounds. Not that many big ones but plenty of good fish. The kings have been biting good, a few black Snappers, a grouper bite or three 'bout every trip. They are still the hardest fish to land, first you gotta hook 'em, then keep 'em out of the bottom and then... beat the sharks back to the boat.

The opening of Red Snapper season in federal waters on June 1st had me running the "pointed nosed boat" with the Federal permit out 12 to 17 miles.

We had some great catches, but boy, that was a lot of driving! June 11th had 'em open in State waters and getting to take the cat boat out only a couple miles sure makes life easier on this old captain!

June 1st is the official start of summer for most folks. Also the end of Triggerfish and Amberjack season for a couple months. BUT, the start of Red Snapper and Gag Grouper!

Red Snapper opened up for Federally permitted charter boats on the 1st so I am driving the "pointed nosed boat" with the permit until at least the 11th when snappers open to the general public. I got to run 2 trips on opening day and we got nice limits of Red Snappers on both the morning 4 hr and the afternoon 3 hr. Too rough today so I am having to wait to go chase 'em for a day or 2.

Drive right through the north gate of Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort for tons of fun, delicious eats, and cold drinks at Baytowne Marina on the picturesque Choctawhatchee Bay.

After a very long and cool Spring it's finally summer here at the beach!

The water and air temps are great, everybody's swimming and until today the weather and Gulf have been just perfect for fishing. The professional liars known as weathermen did it again this week... After forecasting doom and gloom all week while it has been clam, sunny and beautiful they called for today to be nice and calm.... naturally it has squalled several times and the Gulf is sloppy choppy.

It's a beautiful, warm, calm, sunny day and I am on the hill. My charter had to cancel last minute so I am doing boat chores. I told my wife it's just too nice for me to fish, I go when it's chilly or bouncy or overcast.

It's definitely Spring Break time here at the beach.

Lots of families on vacation, lots of traffic and lots of fish in the box. I have been mainly taking out family groups with school age kids the past couple weeks and we have been wearing 'em out catching Triggerfish, Vermillions and Pinks. So far we have been able to limit out on Triggers every trip but it is starting to get harder to find enough over the 15" fork length with LOTS of just short being thrown back.

Been a long time since I stopped and wrote a fishing report.

We have not had a lot of calm days to get out this spring. The temps warmed up quick after the record cold of January and we had a few real pretty days around Valentines. Last week had 5 nice days but it went and got cool again. Big front coming through on the weekend that is supposed to have the temps back down to the low 60's next week.

My computer is telling me I haven't written in a while but there is good reason, it has been cold folks!

That time of the year when two of my favorite seasons collide, Christmas and Flounder!

I have always been a big fan of Christmas time, decorations, family, gatherings & presents always gets me happy and engaged. The fact that this is when the Flounder bite is at it's peak just off the beach at South Walton only makes it better.