Destin Fishing Report 1-26-26
We had a nice temperature window this past week, which allowed a few anglers to get out and enjoy some decent conditions. Looking ahead, this coming week is going to turn chilly. One upside to the cold weather is that it is prime tuna weather at the Navarre Kayak Reefs.
Tuesday, February 3rd kicks off the 2026 seminar season at Legendary Marine. The seminar starts at 6 PM and we will open the season with tips on catching Spanish and King Mackerel. The seminar is free, and it is always a great chance to get together and talk fishing before things really fire up.
Bottom Fishing
Bottom fishing has been solid with good numbers of flounder, plenty of mangrove snapper, a few scamp grouper, and some amberjacks mixed in.
Pier Fishing
The pier is producing mostly whiting and flounder right now. Fresh shrimp works best for whiting in the shallows. For flounder, try live shrimp, bull minnows, or strip baits.
Surf Fishing
Mostly whiting are being caught in the surf, with a few pompano mixed in. Fresh peeled shrimp, sand fleas, and Fishbites are all good options. Mullet chunks and blue crab work well for redfish and black drum. Some mornings, bonita roam the surf and will hit spoons and white jigs.
Bay Fishing
Sheepshead are holding around bridges and jetties and are taking live shrimp and fiddler crabs on custom sheepshead jigs. Around the Destin Bridge, redfish are being caught on live shrimp and blue crab. Trout are stacked up in the deeper bayous and are best targeted with live shrimp.
Offshore Trolling and Deep Drop Bottom Fishing
There is plenty of opportunity offshore. The pipeline, steps, and other deep ledges are producing yellowedge grouper, snowy grouper, and barrelfish. On the Spur and just north of there, winter swordfish action has been pretty good.
