Destin Fishing Report 1-5-26
It’s a new year, and with it comes a whole new set of fishing adventures. Many of those adventures will be driven by the addition of eight new FADs the county has deployed in the 25 to 30 mile range offshore. These FADs are going to hold bait along with kings, bonita, mahi, wahoo, tuna, and more. I don’t know about you, but I am really looking forward to spending some time fishing around them.
So what do we have to look forward to?
The sheepshead bite will continue to improve over the next few weeks. Spanish mackerel should arrive in force in March, along with the pompano showing up in better numbers. In the short term, we should see tuna returning to the Navarre Kayak Reefs later this month, and there is also a good chance they start showing up around the new FADs as well.
Our seminars will start back up next month, with the first one focusing on Spanish and king mackerel fishing.
What’s biting now?
Bottom Fishing
With many species currently closed, efforts should be focused on vermilion snapper, scamp, almaco jacks, and banded rudderfish, also known as amberines.
Offshore Trolling
Keep an eye on water clarity and water temperatures. If you choose the right days, the offshore FADs should produce wahoo, mahi, and tuna. Swordfish should remain available throughout the winter.
Pier Fishing
Pier fishing has been very similar to the surf. Anglers are catching whiting, redfish, flounder, and sheepshead. There have also been some occasional morning bonita runs when conditions line up.
Surf Fishing
Most of the action has been whiting, redfish, black drum, and bonita, with the occasional pompano mixed in. Fresh shrimp, frozen sand fleas, and Fishbites have all been producing. If you really want to up your odds, pick up a ghost shrimp pump and catch some ghost shrimp. They are like crack to the fish.
Bay Fishing
Around the bridges, you will find plenty of sheepshead and redfish biting live shrimp and fiddler crabs. In the creeks, rivers, and bayous on the north and east end of the bay, trout will be holding in deeper, warmer water holes.
