In the back bay of the Destin Florida the Sheepshead are nearing the end of their migration. We should still expect the sheepshead to be a main target only for another week. With more and more bait fish hatching and showing up the Spanish mackerel can still be targeted on the flats or around the bridges. The spanish mackerel can be caught multiple ways by either trolling, live baiting, or with casting jigs. Around these schools of bait we are also seeing bluefish, skips jacks, and hardtails. As for further in the bay in the bayoues lately we have been catching blackdrum, redfish, bluefish, and speckled trout. The mangrove snappers have also started showing up and should become more plentiful through the month of May. As the bait fish move over the grass flats, the fishing on the grass will turn up.
As for gulf fishing the primary type of fishing going on is bottom fishing. The vast majority of species are closed still including amberjacks, redsnappers, and groupers but there are still a variety of snappers to target. Amberjacks will open up May 1st. While bottom fishing the main targets have been triggerfish, mingo snappers, mangrove snappers, white snappers, and a variety of porgies which are all great eating. There is plenty of action to be had with the variety of fish being caught. We are starting to see lots of baitfish in the gulf and the surface bite has begin to fire off. Some surface fish we have been seeing caught trolling are spanish mackerel, king mackerel, bonitas, and even a couple blackfin tunas.
If you are planing a trip to Destin, Florida this Summer be sure to call Destin Inshore Guides ahead of time. This is our busiest part of the year and we do book up fast. We advise booking as early as possible if you plan on fishing while visiting Destin, Florida. Give us a call and let us take you out to catch your next memory of a lifetime. Till next time Tight Lines.