Destin FL

[boondock]

I know that I should have posted this in the Florida discussion board, but it look pretty dormant. I know a lot of folks from Kentucky vacation in Destin. I am hoping that some one can give me some tips on fishing the Destin harbor, we failed miserably yesterday. Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

[riverrat12]

Hit the jedi's, if your facing the gulf from the bay bridge I prefer the one on the left.Sabeki's will get you bait if you want live,I like Gotcha's for about anything, pompano rigs work well. Hopefully JD7 will chime in ...he lives down the road. Good luck Chuck

[troutman]

Just inside of the bridge, on the Fort Walton side, between the shallow water over the "island" and the bridge is some deeper holes that Reds hold in. Fish live croakers on the bottom.

[dockman]

Yes - Just inside the bridge. Fish the restricted water in front of the coast guard station. Anchor outside the bouys and cast live bait and redfish spinners. I killed them in the spring. Not sure about the fall though. Good luck.

[chasmo]

There should be bait/shrimp moving into the bay this time of year. Look for the birds and under them are usually trout. If you start catching small silver trout, go to a heavier bait and let it sink to the bottom where the bigger ones are. Like the other guys said, also-just inside the bridge on Fort Walton side, best time is when the tide is moving in or out, just be sure the water is moving and try the edges and holes where there is grass and sand. Redfish and trout will lay in ambush. Mirrolures, topwaters in low light and redfish spinners and jigs anytime.
Good luck. Wish I was there!!!

[nonamesleft47]

Go to Half Hitch and get you some gulp shrimp in new penny color and 1/4 oz jig heads. Also spinners, flukes, topwater, ect work good too. You can also get live shrimp and pin fish from them if you want live bait.

Drive across the Destin bridge and if you are in a 4 wheel drive pull off to the left as soon as you are past the last sand dune and pull into the compacted sand. If you aren't in a 4 wheel drive you'll have to have someone drop you off as you can't park on the shoulder without getting a ticket. It seems like alot of trouble but it's worth it. I made my wife get up at 4 am every morning to drop me off when we stayed in Ft Walton a couple of years ago.

Wade out as far as you can and fish the dark holes in that area, you'll see them if you have sunglasses on. Lots of reds, trout and flounder in those holes. With the gulp I like to let them sink and then hop them back on the bottom. The reds like copper spoons and topwater lures. For trout a small jig on the back of a big topwater works great right at daylight. Work all of those holes but you shouldn't have to move far to catch fish. We have caught many limits of flounder there and the biggest trout went 6.5 lbs, my son caught it on a topwater.

Also under the destin bridge can be good when the tide is moving. I caught pinfish on a small rod and would put them on the bottom on a carolina rig right in the pilings. Caught many over the slot reds that way. The jetties can be fun but are dangerous to walk on the rocks, take your time and be careful. You can catch spanish, blues, jacks, sharks, ect on the jetties. Good luck and let us know how you do, I love fishing there.

[riverrat12]

Go to Half Hitch and get you some gulp shrimp in new penny color and 1/4 oz jig heads. Also spinners, flukes, topwater, ect work good too. You can also get live shrimp and pin fish from them if you want live bait.

Drive across the Destin bridge and if you are in a 4 wheel drive pull off to the left as soon as you are past the last sand dune and pull into the compacted sand. If you aren't in a 4 wheel drive you'll have to have someone drop you off as you can't park on the shoulder without getting a ticket. It seems like alot of trouble but it's worth it. I made my wife get up at 4 am every morning to drop me off when we stayed in Ft Walton a couple of years ago.

Wade out as far as you can and fish the dark holes in that area, you'll see them if you have sunglasses on. Lots of reds, trout and flounder in those holes. With the gulp I like to let them sink and then hop them back on the bottom. The reds like copper spoons and topwater lures. For trout a small jig on the back of a big topwater works great right at daylight. Work all of those holes but you shouldn't have to move far to catch fish. We have caught many limits of flounder there and the biggest trout went 6.5 lbs, my son caught it on a topwater.

Also under the destin bridge can be good when the tide is moving. I caught pinfish on a small rod and would put them on the bottom on a carolina rig right in the pilings. Caught many over the slot reds that way. The jetties can be fun but are dangerous to walk on the rocks, take your time and be careful. You can catch spanish, blues, jacks, sharks, ect on the jetties. Good luck and let us know how you do, I love fishing there.

The interesting thing about those rocks is they came from KY. Got that info from a charter capt. And yes they are slippery but great fishing.....Good luck..Chuck

[troutman]

i had 1 for my best fishin experiences ever, fishing with Dennis Pike ( Inshoreanglers) just inside of the bridge last Oct. my fishin buddy and i caught 40 Reds in 3.5 hours. all over the slot, the biggest 28 lb. we fished bait in the deeper holes.