Destin Fishing Report 12-29-24
As we near the end of 2024, we are about to change the species we can and can't target. I do hope and pray 2025 will bring some tranquil weather, we surely need light winds, following seas, and calmer weather. It's been a long time since I have seen a year as rough as 2024.
As of December 31st, red snapper will close until summer, triggerfish will close until March. Red grouper and lane snapper will reopen on January 1st.
This week's fishing report will be a little short and sweet as mentioned earlier about weather, mainly the seas. There weren't many fishable days unless you had a battleship. Tuesday and Wednesday were fishable, but the other days it took brave souls and party boats to be able to get offshore.
Nearshore Trolling
Pretty quiet here this week, no kings reported, I'm thinking the water is just too cold now.
There are plenty of bonita and few to no blackfin reported on the kayak reefs. I do know people that tried the blackfin on Tuesday and Wednesday but they had no luck. Maybe with the cold weather moving in late this week the bite will pick up on the tuna.
Pier Fishing
Mostly whiting in the surf line at the pier, a few bonita, flounder, and reds.
The sheepshead should start to bite any day especially with colder temps coming.
Surf Fishing
While not a lot of pompano reported this week, there were some big fish, I saw photos online of at least 4 different pompano over 4lbs and a couple of anglers managed limits.
The whiting continue to bite really good and quite a few bonita on the calm mornings.
Learn How to Catch More Flounder
Learn How to Catch More Flounder
Bottom Fishing
The boats that did get out this week did get to finish off the year with a bang loading up on red snapper. It does look like there is a chance Tuesday and Wednesday could be fishable so there is still time.
Spring/Fall/Winter Bay Fishing Guide
Spring/Fall/Winter Bay Fishing Guide
Offshore Trolling
Spring/Fall/Winter Bay Fishing Guide
Spring/Fall/Winter Bay Fishing Guide
Bay Fishing
No real changes here, expect the sheepshead to bite better and better as the cold air moves in. Around the bridges in Fort Walton there are plenty of white trout at night.
Wading the north side of the bay is producing good catches of trout and reds. Mullet are still plentiful. A few spanish around the Shalimar Bridge.
