Fort Walton Fishing Report

April 7, 2017

Destin Fishing Report

INSHORE – We are officially into our Spring patterns this week and the bite is firing up for the season. Anglers heading out to take advantage of the pier bite can expect to find steady Kings and a fantastic Cobia bite. Morning anglers are finding more and more Pompano as well. Reds, Sheepshead and Whiting have also been caught but are far more prominent inshore and from the surf. Inshore the Trout and Reds are the main target, especially on the flats. Look for the bait to find the fish. Towards the Intracoastal from Destin to Pensacola there has been great numbers of Spanish. The diving Seagulls are giving away their location as they feed. Structure such as bridges and deeper docks in the sound continue to hold and produce decent Sheepshead and Snapper. Live Shrimp has been the key to hooking them. We expect this to continue into the weekend.

OFFSHORE – Anglers fishing nearshore or offshore this week have found plenty of success so far. When the weather allows, boats heading towards the rigs are hooking plenty of Tuna. The sizes have been great and the bite is consistent. Towards the edge we are seeing decent Wahoo as well. When weather or timing keeps anglers restricted to the nearshore bite there has still been many species to target. The Cobia are better than they have been in years, both numbers and sizes. There are also some Kings mixed in however they are not as prominent. If you are heading towards the edges you will find better numbers. Typical of the time of year, the bottom bite has been steadily producing Grouper as well as Tilefish and Sea Bass. Searching structure such as wrecks and reefs has been most productive. Closer in, Mingos have been caught along the edges in roughly 300 feet of water. Scamp and Red Grouper are mixed in. The Red Grouper are more plentiful off East Beach. The Spanish have made their way in and are closer to the beach this week.

For more fish slamming info download the Pro Angler App for hundreds of locations that provide you with more of thousands of GPS Hot Spots, local Pro Reports, What’s Biting, Tide & Weather data along with many more amazing Pro Angler features.

A big THANK YOU to this week’s Pro Report contributors – Half Hitch in Port St. Joe & Navarre, Capt. Larry of Dead Fish Charters, and Gulf Breeze! Find their contact information on the Pro Angler App!





Pro Angler Team

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INSHORE – The Spanish (Mackerel, Spanish) are hitting really well this week. Redfish (Drum, Red) and Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) are still biting. Sheepshead are hot inshore. Anglers are finally catching Cobia in the area. They are still off the beach and have not moved to the pier yet.

OFFSHORE – A few Grouper (Grouper, Gag) have been caught in roughly 120 feet. Anglers are producing good sizes. Ajs (Jack, Amberjack Greater) are great catch and release fish. White Snapper and Beeliners (Snapper, Vermillion & Grunt, White) are consistent. Kings (Mackerel, King) are swimming as well. Search for them around the whistle buoy and catch them on the troll.

BAIT REPORT – Ballyhoo is in the marina and the bay.


Howell Marine and Tackle Supply
850-785-8548

March 24, 2017

Destin Fishing Report

INSHORE – Fishing the Northwest will provide plenty of activity for anglers this week. Trout continue to turn up from Port St. Joe to Navarre. Fishing them early or late in the day using live bait has been best. Reds typically go hand in hand when fishing Trout. They seem to be just about everywhere this week from bays, piers, bridges, passes and beaches. You just need to follow the bait schools to find the fish and then cast artificials to hook them on an outgoing tide. Your Sheepshead will be around on structure while Pompano are making their way onto the beach. Spanish have also shown up on the beach. Hit them with Squid to bring them in.

OFFSHORE – When anglers can make it offshore they are still finding a decent bite. Triggerfish , Snapper, and Grouper are all providing great catch and release action. Vermillion, Porgy, Black Snapper as well as Black and Red Grouper can also be caught offshore but be sure to check the regulations to see where you are permitted to fish for them. Amberjack are now also catch and release as of this week so be sure to keep that in mind when hooking one. Heading towards the Towers and structure nearshore Cobia are following rays and turtles as they move East and West. Cast a jig with live Eels for the best bite. You may also hook onto some Flounder using the same method.

For more fish slamming info download the Pro Angler App for hundreds of locations that provide you with more of thousands of GPS Hot Spots, local Pro Reports, What’s Biting, Tide & Weather data along with many more amazing Pro Angler features.

A big THANK YOU to this week’s Pro Report contributors – Survivor’s Island Bait & Tackle, Half Hitch in Panama & Navarre, and the Ship’s Chandler! Find their contact information on the Pro Angler App!





Pro Angler Team

March 17, 2017

Destin Fishing Report

INSHORE – This week we are beginning to see the Pompano begin to run during the day. Crooked Island beach in the Port St. Joe area has been a particularly good area to fish for them. There are good numbers of Whiting taking Fishbites in similar areas. Anglers are reporting decent Reds and Trout taking soft plastics like Zman lures or live baits such as Shrimp or Minnows. The Trout are increasing in size along with a good amount of slot Reds. Search the shallows to find them. Flounder and Spanish are swimming the bay. You will find them in deeper pockets of water. Spanish are swimming more or less in 6-8 feet towards the North side of the bay. Anglers have been trolling to catch them. Sheepshead are beginning to fire up on structure as usual. The Cobia should begin to arrive soon as well.

OFFSHORE – We continue to see improvement from the region this week. The fishing is firing up, especially the bottom bite throughout the day. There has been a wide variety of fish to take advantage of including Snapper, Grouper, Sea Bass, Triggerfish and even a few Sheepshead a bit closer to shore. Anglers are easily catching good bags of Sheepshead as they are stacked up on structure. Spanish are steady into this week while the Ajs are slowing down. Towards the surface the Bonito are being caught on the troll.

For more fish slamming info download the Pro Angler App for hundreds of locations that provide you with more of thousands of GPS Hot Spots, local Pro Reports, What’s Biting, Tide & Weather data along with many more amazing Pro Angler features.

A big THANK YOU to this week’s Pro Report contributors – Half Hitch in Port St. Joe, Destin, Panama and Navarre! Find their contact information on the Pro Angler App!





Pro Angler Team

March 10, 2017

Destin Fishing Report

INSHORE – Redfish and Trout are hungry so there has been no shortage of nice fish this week. The bay has been the key area to fish them in Port. St. Joe and they are swimming the inshore docks and piers in the evening through to Destin. As usual, the moving tide is most productive. Sheepshead are also stacked up on structure from Panama to Destin. Anglers trolling can expect to see Spanish Mackerel along the coast. Clarkspoons and jigs are the best setups to load up on these fish. Pompano and Whiting are running the beach, more prominently towards Port St. Joe. Moving towards bridges anglers can expect to see Flounder and Drum. Catch and release anglers can move their focus to the bay where there are plenty of Tarpon biting.

For more fish slamming info download the Pro Angler App for hundreds of locations that provide you with more of thousands of GPS Hot Spots, local Pro Reports, What’s Biting, Tide & Weather data along with many more amazing Pro Angler features.

A big THANK YOU to this week’s Pro Report contributors – Half Hitch in Port St. Joe, Howell Marine and Tackle Supply, Harborwalk Marina, and Gulf Breeze Bait a& Tackle! Find their contact information on the Pro Angler App!


OFFSHORE – The bottom bite for Amberjack in this area has been taking off this week. Port St. Joe is holding great numbers if you can get out to 150 feet of water. A variety of live bait has been their preference so far. As you move towards Navarre the Amberjack become a bit more scattered while the Snapper and Triggerfish begin to heat up. Nearshore, there has been a good run of Cobia and Spanish Mackerel from Port St. Joe through to Destin.




Pro Angler Team

March 3, 2017

Destin Fishing Report

INSHORE – It has been difficult to hit the inshore waters and not see any Trout or Redfish. They are riddled throughout the intracoastal to canals to the bay. Varying in sizes we are finding both species all the way to Pensacola. Your best bet is to fish moving tides towards inlets. Deeper holes in roughly 6-8 ft of water has been the key. If you are hitting the surf this week not only will you find scattered Redfish but there has also been consistent Whiting and Pompano to fill your cooler with. Start your day off right with a first light bite, or finish with a few cast on the surf at last light for some good sized fish. The Flounder bite is beginning to improve along the seawall however they are far more prominent in the bay. It has been no surprise that Mud Minnows are the best bait to catch them. As we move towards Destin we find they are still holding up in deeper water. A few occasional catches this week include Sheepshead on rock piles and bridges, and Spanish on the beach towards Navarre. We are also starting to see bait such as Pilchards and cigar Minnows return to the surf.

For more fish slamming info download the Pro Angler App for hundreds of locations that provide you with more of thousands of GPS Hot Spots, local Pro Reports, What’s Biting, Tide & Weather data along with many more amazing Pro Angler features.

A big THANK YOU to this week’s Pro Report contributors – Half Hitch – Port St. Joe, Half Hitch – Panama, The Ships Chandler Marine, Half Hitch – Navarre & Gulf Breeze Bait and Tackle! Find their contact information on the Pro Angler App!


OFFSHORE – The nicer weather in the past week has allowed anglers to finally make it offshore. The Amberjack bite is turning on along with a solid mix of Gray Triggerfish. The Triggers are sometimes difficult to avoid when targeting Ajs. Begin jigging in 90-150 ft feet. They are consistent from Port St. Joe through Pensacola. Anglers who are able to make it nearshore can target a steady catch of Snapper and Grouper species along wrecks and reefs. A handful of Cobia have shown up as well and we expect numbers to increase as the Spring patterns set in.




Pro Angler Team








Hey Anglers!



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