FISH OF THE BEACH - What kind of fish can you catch from the beach? A good variety, depending on what part of the water
you are fishing and the time of year. The most common fish for this area that can be caught with normal casting distances are:
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Pompano - Probably one of the most prized fish to catch in the surf. They normallly run 2-3 pounds and average 11 to 20" long.
They put up an excellent fight and have a firm flesh. Fish
for them on the bottom as that is where they are feeding
on small crustaceans. Most people use a type of Dropper
rig made specifically for Pompano, called a "Pompano Rig"
appropriately enough. Best bait is a fresh scooped sandflea
or a piece of fresh peeled shrimp. Pieces of Gulp shrimp or
Gulp sandfleas will work too. Fish for them in the troughs.

Another method used to catch Pompano is to jig for them
with a "Pompano" jig. Normally used from the pier or jetty,
you can hit the holes close in with a Pompano jig. They are
also fished on the bottom.

Pompano can be caught here the entire year but are most
prevalent during the spring migration. Usually this starts
around the first of April when the water temperature
approaches 70 degrees and last until mid May. Big 50 fish
schools will come marauding through the troughs during this
time. For more information, click on
Pompano

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Redfish - Just as prized as the Pompano, the red fish (red drum) is the bull-loose-in-the-china-shop fish to catch on the beach. To
keep a red fish in Florida, it has to be between 18 -27" long
total lenght (with the tail pinched) You will hear people talking
about catching a "slot Red" - this is the length they are
talking about. You will
also hear about the
"Bull Reds" - these are
the fish over 27". When
you hook one you will
see why they call it a
"Bull". I have lost 2 rods
to what were probably
"Bull Reds" as I did
not have my drag set correctly and they pulled the whole sand
spike and rod out to sea with them.

They are also here all year, but more prevalent in the fall
when they head out the pass to the ocean around October
of each year to mate. Most return to the bay in the spring.  
But they can be found patrolling the troughs most of the
year. They enjoy the same bait as pompano (sand fleas and
peeled fresh shrimp).You can use the pompano rig to catch them. If you want to target them specifically, you will want to upsize your
hook (say a # 4 or 5 circle) and use a whole shrimp instead of pieces.

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Whiting - A good tasting fish that is found close to the shore, usually inside the first sandbar. They favor holes near the beach, in
2 -3' of water. They run 12-16" long and can weigh up to 2 pounds, with the average 1 pound. While they can be caught year round,
best time is in the winter months, November through March. They tend to stay in schools, so if you catch one, there are probably more
there. Best bait is peeled shrimp fished on the bottom close to to the beach on an incoming tide to a hour or so past high tide. Squid,
sandfleas, Gulp shrimp will work too. Either a Carolina rig (Fish finder rig) or a 2 or 3 hook Dropper rig can be used.

For the Carolina rig, use a small 1oz egg sinker, 18-24"
10# flourocarbon leader, and a small # 2 or 4 long shank
bronze J-hook or Kahle hook. Just cast it to the other side
of a hole close to the beach and let sink to the bottom.
Then start a slow, hesitating retrieve.

A pompano rig makes a good Whiting rig too, just put
some smaller hooks on it. Whiting are bottom  scavenging
fish and nibble at your bait, so you need to be ready to
set the hook.

Whitings are members of the drum family and have white,
good tasting meat. We have two types of  whitings in this
area:        
+ the brown striped Southern Kingfish,

+ and the almost all-silver Gulf Kingfish.

Elsewhere they are known by other names:
Channel Mullet, Black Mullet, Sea Mullet, Ground Mullet,
Southern King Croaker, shoemakers, etc. They are not
mullets. Most locals here just  call both types "Whitings",
not really much difference when you catch or eat them.







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Hard Tails - Although they are not considered good to eat (they are an oily fish), they are fun to catch and put up a good fight.
They get their local name of Hard tail from the hard bony ridge running along their side to their tail. The official name is a "Blue
Runner"  (Caranx Crysos) and are prized as bait for grouper and amberjacks.  They run in schools, usually in the troughs and can be
caught using the same baits and techniques as those for
Pompano. Squid is a good bait for them.


















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Bluefish - They are normally found in schools running the troughs from about April through October. The bluefish in this area
normally don't get as big as the ones on the east coast but can run 3-4 pounds later in the summer. They are a nice fighting fish and
can be found throughout the water column. A lot of time you will see them on the surface feeding out in the troughs. My favorite way
to catch them is by casting a silver Gotcha plug toward the
feeding schools. They have a good set of teeth so you want
to use a little stronger leader - my standard is around a 2 - 3'
long 40# fluoro-carbon leader. They will hit spoons, bubble
rigs, and other lures. I have gotten some of the bigger ones
with live pinfish on the bottom with a fish finder rig.

Some locals do not consider a bluefish to be a good eating
fish as they are an oily fish. I think they are fine if prepared
correctly.











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Ladyfish - The little tarpon that will frustrate you by their jumping and spitting your hook. You will probably only be able to get half
of the ones you hook up to the beach because of this. But a fun fish to fight. No food value as they are very bony. They area usually
caught while fishing the bottom for other fish.




















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Black Drum - A member of the Drum family, can be caught using the same tackle and bait as its cousin, the red drum.



























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Catfish - The fish you will learn to hate. Considered a trash fish here, most locals do not eat them, but they are edible. There are
two types of saltwater catfish, the Hardhead and Gafftopsail. We are talking about Hardheads here. They are like their freshwater
cousins and are bottom scavengers. They will normally be caught when you are fishing on the bottom for pompano or other bottom
fish. They love squid.  They don't get that big, normally 1 -2 pounds. You need to be careful when you take them off your hook as the
dorsal (top) fin and each pectoral (side) fins have a serrated
spike at the front of each fin that will inflict a good deal of pain.

If you get "finned"
by a catfish,
depending on how
deep it goes, you
may need to head
to the Emergency
Room. The slime on
their fins  have a
complex toxin that
can cause muscle
cramps, tremor,
fatigue, syncope
and even cardiovascular collapse in extreme cases. Like
many marine toxins, this venom is believed to be denatured
at temperatures above 105 F. This is why they tell you to put
the finned body part in hot water.


I usually use needle nose pliars to grab them by the lower lip, then grab their
mouth with my thumb and fingers. They don't have sharp teeth and the "whiskers"
(barbels actually) wont hurt you. Let them hang vertically while using the needle
nose pliars to remove the hook. Then throw them back into the water.

What you don't want to do is leave them on the beach to die. They will become
buried in the sand and someone is going to step on it and get finned.  Throw
them back.






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Rays - If you are bottom fishing from the beach, you are going to catch a ray eventually. Usually they only weigh a few pounds but
they can get bigger. Most people throw them back but their wings are good to eat. There are several types of rays you will catch, with
most of them being the common stingray as shown here.
You will also catch Skates, which are similiar. If you really
want to identify it,  
click here  for a good guide.

Most rays have a sharp barb about half way down their tail
that they will whip about and barb you if you are not careful.















This is why you shuffle your feet while walking in the surf - you don't want to step on one buried in the sand The first thing they will do
is sling their tail around and barb you. This is what happened to Steve Irvin the Crocodile Hunter.  To take the hook out, carefully,
immobilize the tail by holding it down with your sand flea rake or sand spike so the ray can't sling his tail around and barb you. Use
needle nose pliars or a dehooker to take the hook out. Or just cut the hook and line. Like the catfish, don't leave them on the beach to
die.




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Jack Crevalle -

Normally caught in the summer with a freelined bait out
in the outer troughs. A schooling fish.


















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Sharks -


Spanish Mackerel


King Mackerel


Flounder



















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That is what you normally catch when fishing from the beach with normal gear. Also, while most of the following fish do swim closer to
shore at times, they are caught mostly past the  second (outer) sandbar: sharks, cobia, tarpon, spanish mackerel and king mackerel.
And, who knows what else,
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Type fish                    Jan        Feb        Mar        Apr        May        Jun        July        Aug        Sep        Oct        Nov        Dec
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Black Drum
Bluefish
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Catfish                          X            X             X            X            X             X             X             X             X            X            X            X            
Jack Crevalle
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Hardtails
Ladyfish
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Pompano                                                                   E
Rays
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Redfish
Shark
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Whiting

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FISHING THE BEACH IN DESTIN - A word about our beaches...

On first glance at our beaches, you will see what appears to be a desert of white sand stretching to the surf and continuing seaward.  
Nothing but white sand, no structure, no rocks, cliffs, or other things to attract fish. But on a closer look, you will see a wide variety of
life in our surf. To catch fish on the beach, the first step is to learn the beach and the habitat of the fish that inhabit the surf.

For the most part, our beaches are made up of white quartz sand washed down from the southern most portions of the Appalachian
mountains years ago. Because the predominant wave direction (longshore current) is from the east, sand is slowly transported to the
west. With age, the darker minerals are broken down, leaving only the white quartz grains.

There are no natural rocks or mud along the shore, just squeaky white sand.  As you move east or west from the Destin area along
the Gulf Coast, you will find that the white  sand starts to change in color and consistency. This is because these beaches receive a
totally different supply of sediment washed down from sources other than the Appalachian mountain.

For example, the Mississippi River system drains an enormous portion of the North American continent, through slow-moving streams
that bring in a lot of mud and silt. The beaches of Louisiana and east Texas are therefore a "chocolate brown" color.

Along the west coast of Florida,  streams bring in dissolved limestone from the peninsula, but very little sand, silt, or mud. The
material deposited on the beaches from about Carabelle south along the western coast of Florida is made up of mostly fragments of
seashells; the beaches are white, but not nearly as sparkling as those around Destin.

Miles of sugar white sand offer more than just sun bathing and playing in the surf - some
excellent fishing can be done from the beaches. The beach fishing varies by season and time of day, but you
can find something biting most of the time. And there is nothing more exciting than pulling in a big Redfish
through the surf or fighting a Pompano. Relax, enjoy, here are a few tips on catching fish
from the beaches around Destin.
Counter
Fish that can be caught on the
Beaches of Destin
"Outer bar"

The Layout of the Beach

Southern Kingfish (Menticirrhus americanus)

Gulf Kingfish (Menticirrhus littoralis)
Here is a good You Tube video of a Wisconsin visitor catching Whiting
from the beach.
Click Here:   
You Tube - Whiting fishing
Serrated Spike
Serrated Spike
Close up of dorsal
fin serrated spike
Barb

Fish of the outer trough and last sandbar...
In Progress
In Progress
Outer bar
Inner Bar
Middle Bar
Trough
Trough