Hard to believe that’s it’s Spring Break already here in Destin. The past couple of months have given us some much needed downtime, but we are ready for another season of fishing! Our schedule gets pretty busy starting the first full week of March and the weather looks like it is starting to get better as well with at least a 3 day window of calm seas, warm temps, and sunny weather. Won’t be too long until the Cobia start running off the beach.
Our anglers fishing this time of year will be treated to as pretty a day as you could ask for in late February/early March with temps around 70 and plenty of sunshine, and can expect to catch Vermillion snapper, good sized Trigger Fish and some Pinks. Bottom fishing is good for triggerfish, amberjack, red grouper and mingo snapper. Pompano are biting in the surf, sharks are on the move and a few whiting, The bay is full of sheepshead, redfish and trout. No reports of cobia but the first one could be caught any day, and some are saying the spanish mackerel are here as well.
Speaking of snappers, the “proposed” Red Snapper season for Florida State waters is all the Saturdays and Sundays in May, opening up continuously from May 28th through July 10th, then closing and re-opening for all the weekends (Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays) in September and October , as well as Labor Day (Monday) for a total of 78 days. This will have to be ratified at the FWC meeting in April. Beyond red snapper, Gag Groupers will open up June 1st through December, which we are very excited about. This has already been voted on and is the current law for 2016.
Assuming the red snapper season stays as proposed, with red snapper AND grouper being open simultaneously from June 1st through July 10th, those fishing charters and center console rentals are sure to book up FAST. Make sure to plan ahead and get your reservations in now (or soon after the official announcement is made) to make sure you aren’t left standing on the dock!