Fishing

By Cali Hvalac, Silver Shade Studio The Tarpon have arrived! A bucket list fish for many anglers, Tarpon are most commonly found in South Florida, but Destin sees a passing migration during June and July. Tarpon are known for their massive size, can reach up to 8 ft. long and...

Will you be fishing for snapper or grouper on your next fishing trip? Continue your role as a conservationist by paying close attention to signs of barotrauma and being prepared to respond. Barotrauma is a condition seen in many fish caught at depths greater than 50 feet and is...

The recreational red snapper season started June 4 in Gulf state and federal waters off Florida and will remain open through July 28, closing July 29. “We are excited about Gov. DeSantis’ recent announcement of this year’s 55-day Gulf red snapper summer season; it is one of the longest...

Gag grouper opened for recreational harvest in most state Gulf of Mexico waters and all federal Gulf waters on June 1, and will remain open through Dec. 31. Gulf state waters in Florida are from shore to 9 nautical miles. Federal waters begin where state waters end and extend to...

By Cali Hvalac, Silver Shade Studios There are two types of locals: Those that live on land, and those that live in the water. Those in the water were here first, but graciously share this area with us humans who reside here and who vacation here. It doesn’t take long once...

By Cali Hlavac, To Do in Destin As one of our area’s long-standing traditions, the Blessing of the Fleet brought out locals and tourists for a ceremony unlike any other on the Destin Harbor. It has become one that many locals and visitors look forward to attending this time of...

Okaloosa County Sinks Retired US Air Force Vessel A large 93-foot U.S. Air Force steel-hull water training vessel, BIG DAWG, was sunk to the seafloor in 104 feet of water, 14 miles southwest of the Destin Pass on May 7. The vessel was offered to Okaloosa County Staff in June...

Summer is busy for boating in Florida. As temperatures warm up and the long Memorial Day holiday weekend nears, more and more boaters will hit the bays, lakes, rivers and Gulf of Mexico. Bay County Tax Collector Chuck Perdue wants boaters to operate safely this year and wants to...

Did you know that Florida has the unfortunate distinction of being the national leader in annual boating fatalities? A majority of fatalities every year are boaters that are reported swimmers who fall overboard and drown. These deaths can be easily prevented by wearing a lifejacket. Wearing a lifejacket can...

By Cali Hlavac, To Do in Destin If you have interest in any type of fishing as a passion or a hobby, then you’ve probably been exposed to fly fishing on some level over the years. Fly fishing has been around for decades, but has recently expanded to include more...