Anyone ever fish the jettys in Destin FL?

[Oldyota]

I figured I would ask since lots of folks from Kentuckiana go down to Destin... I'm planning on one 6 hr. trip offshore, but we're staying at the Jetty East which is right by main canal opening from the bay to the gulf. Wondering if anyone has ever fished them with any luck... Just looking to take the kids down there in the evening to watch the sunset and throw a line out... Thanks

[Todd2]

I figured I would ask since lots of folks from Kentuckiana go down to Destin... I'm planning on one 6 hr. trip offshore, but we're staying at the Jetty East which is right by main canal opening from the bay to the gulf. Wondering if anyone has ever fished them with any luck... Just looking to take the kids down there in the evening to watch the sunset and throw a line out... Thanks

I was down in Destin with the family about 2 weeks ago. We did a 6 hour offshore trip and didn't catch one fish. When we got there that morning, the captain recommended that we troll instead of bottom fish. His reasoning was that it took about 1.5 hours to get to the area where bottom fishing was good and of course 1.5 hours back; leaving us 3 hours of fishing. The trolling could start almost immediately. So on his recommendation, we went trolling and got skunked. The real kicker was about 4 hours into the trip, the deck hand on the boat says "Well, I really wished you guys had chose bottom fishing, we would've slayed em"...

[smljaw]

I went to Ft. Walton last year in late April/early May. The pompano were running and guys were catching a few with live sand fleas and white hair jigs. The locals say they are really good if cooked on the grill. I would do some research to find out what's running during your visit to Destin.

I went out for the 6 hour boat ride when I was there as well. We "sight fished" for cobia. This consisted of all 6 fisherman standing around on the lower deck while the 2 deck hands stood up top. The deck hands stayed at the ready, looking for cobia at the surface. One cobia was caught before heading out for bottom fishing... Wow, what a blast!!!!! I don't believe I'll ever drop money on one of those trips again. Nearly all of my experiences have been too expensive and uneventful.

Good luck to ya...

[tglass]

i have never been fishing in destin but i go to florida usually in september to fish for snook. i also have hooked some really nice tarpon too but can't get them in as i fish from some bridges. i would say ask a few locals when down there where you might be able to catch some fish. If you are wanting to keep the kids busy then just buy some squid and fish it on as light of split shot as you can to get it to the bottom on a size 8 hook. You will catch plenty of pinfish and grunts and some other bonus fish. If you want and easy way to fish for snook and or tarpon fish a bridge that get some current during the tide change and fish them. I mostly fish at night and i fish the outgoing tide. you have to be at a bridge with lights so it will cast a good shadow line but you can tell really quick if there are snook or tarpon around because snook will sit there with their noses touching the shadow line looking into the current and tarpon will swim up and down the shadow line. i mainly fish with no weight when fishing in the gulf. i would also say you can usually fins a pier that has good spanish mackeral fishing too and that would be in the day. they are easy to catch too. You can throw a white crappie jig or a squid spoon with a float and you just throw out and reel in and they will come get it if they are around. Just make sure you use a 20 lb leader line for mackeral and at least a 40 or bigger for snook or tarpon on the bridges. Let me know if you need any more help. By the way i usually fish south of Tampa in bradenton when i go down so i don't know if things are the same up that way but i would check.

Tom

[TR185DC]

We go to panama city beach every october. We go out on the Jublee for a six hour fishing trip. Red snapper and grouper and do pretty good every year. You can stay at the Summit on the beach for about $500.00 for the week in a condo. It's a great trip!

[riverrat12]

I fish both jettys there at the bay, I usually use a pyramid sinker on the bottom and rig two 6inch leaders with snap swivels about a foot apart above them with a 1# or 2# hook. Shrimp, sand fleas, squid are all good bait. I take a 12ft surf rod with a big spincast. 20# or 30# test will do. Take about a 3ft piece of 2inch PVC and cut one end at a 45degree angle for a rod holder. Just push the sharp end down in the sand and stick the but end of your rod in the top. You can also take a smaller rod and reel and throw spoons, Gotcha's, or pompano jigs in the surf. Stop by Half hitch tackle store there on Hwy 98, those guy's know a little more about what's going on than the ones at the bass pro shop. Nothing against BPS but Half hitch has been there for a long time. Also it might be close to the cobia run ...good eaten but they usually hit eels that go for about 5$ apiece. And if the surf fishing is slow head on down to the pier, there still might be some kings running... Good luck.. Chuck

[Bobby Headrick]

I went a few years back and fished the piers at Panama city, actully not far from Destin and used some weird looking plug, made of metal that had feathers on it and slayed the ladyfish, which look like small tarpon and jump like crazy and saw severerl big fish caught that day also. Check out the piers thay only charge a few dollars a day and also you cna catch a bunch of mangrive snappers off them, talk about good eaten yum. Good luck.

[riverrat12]

I went a few years back and fished the piers at Panama city, actully not far from Destin and used some weird looking plug, made of metal that had feathers on it and slayed the ladyfish, which look like small tarpon and jump like crazy and saw severerl big fish caught that day also. Check out the piers thay only charge a few dollars a day and also you cna catch a bunch of mangrive snappers off them, talk about good eaten yum. Good luck.

Bobby I think the plug your talking about is the Gotcha...It's kinda like the rooster tail of the ocean...Catches everything...Chuck Oh and I prefer the ones with a red head...

[JoeB]

I've fished the jettys before, and done pretty well. We used sand flea rigs for pompano, and if you catch a couple the local restaurants will cook them for you and they're great. I've caught a couple of jack crevalle off the deep side of the jetty with a plastic jerk bait. We caught several spanish mackerel with gotcha jigs, although I don't know if they would be around this time of year. Ladyfish should be around, and they will hit most any type of curly tail jig or shad body plastic. Lots of fun. The pier at Ft Walton is a good pier and the shark fishing is very good. Get some wire and a ladyfish cut in half. There is a big bait shop on the main drag in Destin (forgot the name) and they're usually pretty helpful about pointing you in the right direction. Gluck.

[riverrat12]

There is a big bait shop on the main drag in Destin (forgot the name) and they're usually pretty helpful about pointing you in the right direction. Halfhitch bait and tackle

[Oldyota]

Thanks guys for the responses, now i'm all excited about catching some toothy creatures and hopefully throw some on the grill.... I'm going to stop in Half Hitch and get some rigs and bait, hopefully they will have some good tips as well. I've got some braid tied on a 6'6" spinning rod and was going to take it.. I figure with a good leader I should be fine.. That and a pair of pliers anything else you think I should bring??

[riverrat12]

Don't forget a towel and cooler with lots of ice!!!Separate an area for fish and your favorite beverage. Pick up all your fish with a towel for some have surprises.Bring back some pic's and a full belly. Good luck...Chuck