Catch and release fishing
in Destin has become a growing trend mainly because Destin is where the best fisherman congregates. Now you may be wondering why the ability of the fisherman has any bearing on whether they catch and release or not. As fisherman get better at catching fish they can easily catch their limit in a short amount of time. If you have hired a boat to fish the Destin area for the day and you catch all that you are allowed in the first couple of hours then you have a choice. You can either head back to shore to spend your day catching up on your yard work or you can enjoy the rest of the day doing catch and release fishing.
Remember that the point of catch and release is to have the fish survive the journey so you want to have a plan and know what to do:
· When you land the fish you want to minimize the amount of time that it spends out of water
· Do not use a net or a gaff since they can damage the fishes gills and cause injuries that would eventually kill the fish
· Do not handle the fish any more than you have to and try to keep your hands moist when you do come into contact with the fish
· Do not just toss the fish back into the water because the shock can sometimes kill them. Let he fish go into the water head first and if possible, let the fish make the plunge itself.
· In most instances you will want to use single hooks that have the barbs pinched shut. They are the easiest to remove from the fish without injuring them unduly. Avoid using artificial lures and spoons because they are specially designed to hook the fish as deeply as possible.
· It is best to catch and release after you have already caught your legal limit. If you are trying to decide which fish to keep and which to throw back then it will probably keep the fish out of the water too long while you make up your mind. If you know that you will be throwing back anything you catch then you can make the procedure quick and easy.
Destin is a great place for the experienced fisherman to enjoy a day of catch and release fishing but you do not have to be a pro to do it. Many of the local fishing boats will be glad to show you the ropes and you can be out on the water catching fish in no time.
Destin Charter
Captain Mikel and Backlash Charters, of Destin, Florida believe that fun and fishing should go together. They go out of their way to help youngsters have a great experience. Our family enjoyed a fun-filled day aboard the Backlash and we would like to share with you a little of our adventure in case you are thinking of introducing your family to a deep-sea fishing experience.
Let me tell you some of the things that contributed to our fun outing and helped us conclude that we were fishing with the best in the business…and more importantly, that we had selected the best charter boat and captain for families. Chris, the deck hand and first mate put us at ease immediately. It was obvious that he is knowledgeable and experienced and he is great with kids! No time was wasted as we headed to deep water. Chris began to teach us everything we needed to know and got us set up with the tackle and gear necessary for the first of many catches. He even baited our hook…a great relief to the kids as well as my wife! Once we reached the first of Captain Mikel’s secret fishing spots, our catches were rapid fire…one fish after another! As we reached each prime fishing spot we listened for instructions…”Drop your hook to 140’…count to ten…”and as promised we landed numerous amberjack. In another location we reeled in red snapper. Backlash Charters specializes in 30-50 pound fish…that will give you a whale of a fight!
The Backlash comes equipped with the best high tech fish finding sonar. Combine that with Captain Mikel’s knowledge of twelve hundred reef sights and you are bound to catch a lot of fish! Rod holders on board were a help to the youngsters as they fought the big fish…not all boats have these. And of course the basics are provided too… from your fishing license to ice!
While Backlash Charters charges a bit more you will soon realize that you are paying for a true deep sea fishing experience. It takes fuel to reach Captain Mikel’s secret fishing spots in deep water and that is expensive! You’ll notice that many boats take their customers out just off shore and the end result is very different. When you return from your fishing experience and compare your catch with that of other charters you will realize that you paid for the very best and it was worth it!
We found the six hour trip to be about right for our family with a ten year old and a twelve year old. It seems Captain Mikel thought of everything…even video games to help the kids pass the time on the trip back to the dock. Our family had a great time and has memories to last a lifetime…although we are sure to book another adventure!
