On our Inshore bay fishing charters the bite has been good most days. The cold weather has cooled down the big time and we are no longer seeing red tide. All of the bait has moved to deeper water and our main two baits now are live shrimp and artificial lures. In the fall and winter when the water temps drop fish begin to move slower so remember to be patient and work any artificial lure slower. As far as what is being caught we have been seeing good numbers of blackdrum around structure. While fishing for blackdrum we are also catching redfish and some sheepsheads as well. In the back bay there is a mixture of redfish, speckled trout, and white trout to be caught. Majority of the flounder have migrated out to inshore wrecks in the gulf but there are still some to be caught around the bay.
On our near shore gulf charters we are primarily bottom fishing with majority of the surface biting fish like king mackerels moving offshore. Always keeps your eyes open though because with cooler water temps we do see blackfins move to the beach. We have been seeing some on the tidelines and around schools of bait inshore. While bottom fishing the vermilion snappers "aka mingos snappers", white snappers, and flounder are our prime targeted species with majority of the other fish being closed season. There are lots of amberjack, Redsnappers, and Triggerfish but don't forget they are closed for the rest of the year. This is the time of the year that Flounder migrate to inshore gulf wrecks, If you catch one there are usually plenty more around.
If you are planing a trip to Destin, Florida this fall or winter, Destin Inshore Guides fishes year around so be sure to give us a call and let us take you out to catch your next memory of a lifetime. Till next time Tight Lines.