Book your Destin winter fishing trip today!
It’s officially Winter. But don’t let that fool you! January Fishing in Destin is still HOT @ Panhandle Fishing Charters. Take advantage of lower rates and availability while reeling in the big ones! Inshore you’ll reel in redfish, trout, flounder, black drum whiting, and sheepshead. On the bottom, you can expect to catch your share of amberjack, scamp, red grouper, triggerfish, and vermillion snapper. Inshore Charter Fishing in Destin, FL may have slowed down a little, but that just means better rates, open availability and your share of reeling in the big ones! We have many adventures to choose from!
Redfish are one of our favorite species of fish to target on a charter.
They can be caught almost anywhere in the bay on a variety of different types of tackle and baits. Bull Redfish in the state of Florida have a slot meaning that keepers have to be within 18-27 inches to harvest and two per person per day is the limit. Typically in the winter months, Bull Redfish which are over the slot, will school up in large groups in the bay and off the beaches in the Gulf of Mexico. An easy way to locate these fish are to find flocking birds diving for bait. Once you have located the schools of fish, most charter boat captains like to troll deep-diving lures called stretches (hot colors are pink and orange.) You can also throw large jigs or live fin baits at these Redfish schools. Redfish are not very picky at the type of baits they eat due to the lack of baits in the area this time of year. If you want to target slot Redfish this time of the year, many charter boat captains will buy live shrimp and use a simple Carolina rig to fish around the west Destin jetty, Destin Bridge channel, Coast Guard station, and Brooks Bridge area. Typically using the 20-30 pound Flourocarbon leader with a Owner #3 circle hook and a 1/4 to 2 ounce slip lead depending on current strength. This time of the year, you can also locate Redfish along docks, grass beds, and sandbars feeding on crabs, shrimp, and small live baits.