Inshore fishing is when one is fishing along the bottom of a waterway that is often no more than 10 or 12 feet deep. It can be done in fresh or saltwater and provides a great deal of pleasure for many anglers -not to mention, a wide variety of fish to be caught. You may choose to fish along the banks and ledges where there is a natural or man-made cover or from a boat. In the past few years, there has been resurgence in inshore fishing in Destin.
Thanks to the Choctawhatchee Bay’s many inlets and estuaries there are many shallow inshore fishing locations in the Destin area. These waterways are abundant in water grass flats bordered by reed grass and tree lined shores making them the perfect habitat for not just the fish that reside there, but also prime habitats for shrimp, oysters and crabs – all favorite foods for the myriad of fun to catch, taste bud tantalizing saltwater fish caught when inshore fishing in Destin.
In the Destin, Florida area, inshore fishing means saltwater anglers often catch such species as eel, mackerel, barracuda, redfish, sheepshead, black drum, sharks, flounder and spotted sea trout to name just a few, though there are dozens more that could be mentioned! Of course, these can be very strong and feisty fish, so catching them requires using stronger equipment than one would use for standard freshwater fishing.
Your rod and reel need to be strong enough or it will break – especially should you hook one of the larger species of fish. In addition to sturdiness, it also needs to be rated for saltwater as the water itself can cause significant damage to your gear. Consider using reels that are stainless steel, titanium or fiber with at least a 10-pound monofilament line. For larger fish such as redfish and mackerel, you will need slightly stronger lines and gear. Other key elements when going inshore saltwater fishing include:
- Circle hooks in 2/0, 3/0 and 4/0 sizes
- A 7-foot, medium action spinning rod
- A 30-pound test fluorocarbon leader material to refract light when under the water thus making it nearly invisible to the fish
- A torpedo-shaped top water plug
- A 1/8 to ¼ ounce jighead paired with a live or artificial shrimp.
While anyone can get in a canoe or small fishing boat, load up their gear and bait and enjoy inshore saltwater fishing, to truly enjoy the sport, boarding a charter is the way to go. A charter boat will be able to go a few miles offshore and will provide all the equipment and bait you will need. Then after your successful day on the water, your fish will be cleaned for you so that all you have left to do is tell the stories and enjoy a meal or three featuring the fish you wrangled to the boat.
So, the next time you are looking for a new fishing adventure, why not cast line towards some Destin inshore fishing action? You are certain to have a wonderful time.