Bottom Fishing

Bottom fishing in the Gulf of Mexico is available and good year around, although the summer months are more prevalent for fishing activity due to calmer warm weather, warm waters, and the bustling tourist industry. Summertime can be more crowded bringing charter and guide availability to a minimum, although finding some type of fishing trip should not be impossible. Also, there will be more local fishermen in the waters, increasing the number of boats and fishing pressure. With the warm weather and water, the fish can be found in shallower water, so a 4 - 6 hour trip can be quite productive. The longer 8 - 12 hour trips will allow travel further out to deeper waters and most assuredly a good catch.

Fall, Spring, and Winter are excellent for bottom fishing, although weather conditions are more likely to cause rougher seas and create trip cancellations or delays, there are still plenty of moderate calm days that can awe the nature loving angler and provide a great day of fishing. During these times it's opposite the Summer tourist season, so charter and guide availability should be no problem. In the Fall and Spring, fish are on the move due to changing weather and water temperatures. Due to expending energy during migration, spawning activity and sometimes lack of food source it can be easy to get a good bite going at any given bottom spot. During the Winter, the cold fronts and low pressure storms become more regular sometimes making fishing conditions tougher from a weather perspective. The fish generally move further out as water temperatures fall. But it is an excellent opportunity to catch nice fish. There is less fishing pressure and many spots can go un-fished for longer periods. The natural rocks and edges offshore can be very productive with fish being less finicky about eating. Sometimes during the Summer months live bait can be a necessity for a good catch, whereas in the winter months with limited food source, fish may eat most anything presented to them.

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Inshore Trolling

Inshore trolling and fly-lining is a popular fishing method beginning from mid Spring or early Summer all the way into late Fall. During Winter months from November through February inshore waters become too cold, and fish caught using this method become very sparse or non-existent as they migrate to warmer waters to the south. When the water begins to warm in the Spring, schools of baitfish move inshore. Spanish Mackerel, King Mackerel, Dolphin, and Bonito migrate into the inshore waters following this food chain. These fish can be caught trolling over inshore reefs or around any visible schools of bait seen on the surface close to shore. Also, other species such as Redfish, Bluefish, Amberjack, Jack Crevelle and Tarpon can be caught while trolling, or can be caught by sight casting with spinning tackle when schools of these fish are seen on the surface. Occasionally, offshore fish such as Sailfish and Wahoo may be caught amongst inshore schools of bait.

Trolling is done by slowly dragging various types of rigged live or dead natural fish baits or artificial lures behind the boat on and below the surface using various techniques and types of equipment. It can provide for exciting action packed moments when the fish are biting good. It is not uncommon to get into what's known as a rally, hooking more than one fish at a time. Your crew can definitely have it's hands full during these times. There may be times you'll be without any baits left in the water after a good rally. Then it will be time to catch your breath re-rig and go for some more!

Fly-lining is another method used in inshore waters. The boat is either sitting still or barely moving to keep position. Live or dead natural baits are cast out by the angler normally using spinning tackle. The bait swims or sinks freely as the angler awaits a bite. This allows the angler to provide the action desired on the bait and hook the fish themselves with rod in hand as they feel the bite. The baits can also be slowly trolled behind the boat if desired.

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Offshore Trolling

Perhaps better known for it's fertile bottom fishing grounds, the Gulf of Mexico offshore of Destin also offers the opportunity for World Class Big Game Sport fishing. Although getting to the offshore fishing grounds may be a 2 hour trip for most boats, the trip can prove to be well worth it. Beginning in late Spring and lasting through late Fall, the offshore blue water offers catches of Dolphin, Wahoo, Tuna, Sailfish, White Marlin, and one of the most coveted big game sport fish, the Atlantic Blue Marlin. Over the years it has come to the attention of sport fisherman from all over the world that the Northern Gulf waters are capable of producing record class fish on the offshore circuit. The Florida State Record Blue Marlin was caught offshore of Destin weighing in at 980 lbs, and it is not uncommon to hook or catch one of these magnificent fish in the 300 - 700 lb range. Tournaments are held most weekends out of ports along the Northern Gulf region throughout the season. Some with cash prizes totaling in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The offshore experience is as exciting as any when times are right. You never know what you may come across trolling the deep blue water. Floating objects, large concentrations of Sargasso weed, large schools of bait, and well defined tide lines created by Gulf Stream loop currents are sought out by captains. These objects create a food chain that bring in the larger fish. There's always an opportunity to see an abundance of marine life. Artificial lures, live or dead natural baits are pulled behind boat. The lines are spread out by attaching them to clips and pulled to the tips of the outriggers which are laid out and protruding from either side boat. A total of 6 - 9 lines may be trolled at one time. There is an air of constant anticipation as the baits swim through the water, knowing that at any moment a monster fish may strike. There may be long periods of no activity at times, but when a bite comes the anticipation turns into adrenalin pumping excitement!!

The hooking and fighting of a fish as powerful as a Blue Marlin requires coordinated teamwork between the Captain, the mates, and the angler.

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Bay & Flats Fishing

The inland bodies of water in the Destin - Ft. Walton Bch. area offer plenty of fishing opportunities from fresh water lakes and rivers to the Choctawhatchee Bay and Santa Rosa Sound. Also, east to Panama City and Port St. Joe there lies an inland network of bays and bayous that can offer the best in bay and flats fishing. These inland waters contain a great variety fresh and saltwater fish. There's nothing like prowling through a teacup depth of water looking for and spotting the target fish. Stealth and patience can be tested, but can be very rewarding for those anglers that enjoy this type of fishing.

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