The week of Christmas may not seem like the time to fish in Destin. However, there are fewer boats on the water meaning less pressure on the fish. This week we found some bull redfish under the Destin bridge. Outgoing tide, live shrimp on a 2/O demon perfect circle hook, 30lb Andes Fluorocarbon, 2oz lead on a L4K rig, and a Penn 4500 Spinfisher VI. Our tag 589 on a healthy release will be monitored by Coastal Resources. This fish was 9.5lbs and 32" long. Kian has been fishing with me for the past five years. I'm very proud of him.

September afternoons in Destin, FL are tough on the Captain to find active fish. This week's hot weather and South wind made it seem impossible. However, we found this 25" Redfish in < 3' of murky water with an outgoing tide, hanging around schools of Sand Trout and Ladyfish. He and 18 of his smaller friends ate live Menhaden on a Carolina Rig tied to a 2/O Demon Perfect circle hook on 20lb Seaguar Red-Label fluorocarbon. We used a PENN Battle II 2500, 7' Extra Fast, Medium-Light Rod, loaded with 15lb Berkley Power-Pro super-slick braid. The hardest part is getting bait past the Mangrove Snappers and Pinfish. This lady-angler broke her own personal record with a 7-minute fight around dock pylons, heavy grass, and a set of deployed Power-Poles. The Captain finally netted the bull after three failed attempts. WOW! That fish went straight from live-well to grill for the freshest fish at the Hansill house--EVER! That was an exciting day aboard "at EASE!"

One last chance to take my son fishing before he heads back to college at UCF—we made some memories this morning! The forecast was 97 degrees with heat warning and 50% chance of rain. Glad we ignored the weather-guessers. It was hot, but the Bay was glassy with clear, moving water. After filling both live-wells with Menhaden, Hunter and I pitched live, nose-hooked baits on #1 Owner's Mutu Light Circle Hooks. 12lb. braid tipped with 15lb. mono and 20lb Seaguar Fluorocarbon Leader. We added 1/16th oz weight for casting. Targeting docks with boat lifts near grass-flats before the sun escaped the trees, we had fish in the boat nearly every cast. Smaller fish at first, but the larger Reds showed up as the morning progressed. Mangrove Snapper and Trout were eating too! The bite slowed down around 1000 and we headed to deeper pot-holes I have mapped on my Simrad thanks to ISLA imaging. We finished up at 11am with three more 20” Redfish. We released all of our fish for the next angler to enjoy. An epic day to motivate Hunter to make great grades on his journey to Med School. Come get your back-to-school fishing trip with Captain Rob!