My wife and I will be in the Destin area in early June and will likely bring our kayaks. I would like to know if any of you have fished that area? Where are good fishing spots? What is generally caught there and what type of bait?
Thanks
Sparky Hardeman
Kayak fishing in Destin / Ft. Walton Flordia Area
- Finn Maccumhail
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I have fished the Perdido key area a number of times. It is probably an hour away from the Destin area. At Perdido Key, I have caught a number of species from shore in the surf on pink mirrorlures including bluefish, ladyfish, and spanish mackerel. I fished the mirrolure very fast through the surf. Also caught some pompano on johnson spoons. Fishing the surf at night I caught whiting and redfish on cigar minnows fished on bottom.
On the bay side, I have caught trout, reds, various types of small grouper, a few small barrucada, lots of lizard fish on my last trip (ugh!), sheepshead, and stingrays. Overall, I have caught more species of fish in the Florida panhandle than I have in Texas. In the bay, I caught the above fish on gulp shrimp, corkies (fished totally incorrectly like a crankbait), and dead shrimp.
I have taken the kayak out into the surf once in florida. Went out to the color change and caught ladyfish on virtually every catch (see post below). Of course I was nervous about sharks the whole time when I was out there. The shallow water in the surf was beautiful. Large schools of pompano and rays went below us repeatedly.
http://texaskayakfisherman.com/forum/vi ... highlight=
On the bay side, I have caught trout, reds, various types of small grouper, a few small barrucada, lots of lizard fish on my last trip (ugh!), sheepshead, and stingrays. Overall, I have caught more species of fish in the Florida panhandle than I have in Texas. In the bay, I caught the above fish on gulp shrimp, corkies (fished totally incorrectly like a crankbait), and dead shrimp.
I have taken the kayak out into the surf once in florida. Went out to the color change and caught ladyfish on virtually every catch (see post below). Of course I was nervous about sharks the whole time when I was out there. The shallow water in the surf was beautiful. Large schools of pompano and rays went below us repeatedly.
http://texaskayakfisherman.com/forum/vi ... highlight=
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I am in Port Isabel right now, but will be back to houston next weekend. Get with me then. I lived in Destin for 10 years and was a Guide there. Till then check out http://gulfcoastkayakfishing.com/
Inshore:
Try launching at the Destin bridge launch on the west side and go north. Fish the getty by the coast guard station.. then past it on the left bank there are some good grass flats. I like fishing topwater at night there. Once the sun comes up you will have little time before the crowds show up and start anchoring up at “crab island” (a big sandbar / tailgate) If I had to go during the day I would stop over and get some live shrimp at the tackle shop. If that is not happening go over to Destin Harbor and go fish by the pump station way in the back.
Offshore: try trolling frozen cigar minnows on stinger rigs in about 40' of water off the coast... thats about 1/2 of a mile off the coast there. Good kingfish / bonita action. Some spots that are good are around the Ft. Walton Pier and around the Miss. Louis Wreck which is right off the beach south of where BassPro is... Check some dive resource site for exact gps... but you better get your fishing in before 9:00am when the dive boat start showing up. (leash your stuff or loose it.... )
good luck
Try launching at the Destin bridge launch on the west side and go north. Fish the getty by the coast guard station.. then past it on the left bank there are some good grass flats. I like fishing topwater at night there. Once the sun comes up you will have little time before the crowds show up and start anchoring up at “crab island” (a big sandbar / tailgate) If I had to go during the day I would stop over and get some live shrimp at the tackle shop. If that is not happening go over to Destin Harbor and go fish by the pump station way in the back.
Offshore: try trolling frozen cigar minnows on stinger rigs in about 40' of water off the coast... thats about 1/2 of a mile off the coast there. Good kingfish / bonita action. Some spots that are good are around the Ft. Walton Pier and around the Miss. Louis Wreck which is right off the beach south of where BassPro is... Check some dive resource site for exact gps... but you better get your fishing in before 9:00am when the dive boat start showing up. (leash your stuff or loose it.... )
good luck
Re: Kayak fishing in Destin / Ft. Walton Flordia Area
we do guided kayak fishing trips in the Destin/Ft walton beach area. We offer very competitive prices and catch alot of fish! email me at cmg76@yahoo.com if interested! Family friendly!