FLORIDA FEATURE ARTICLES : EMERALD COAST

Anglers Write their own Fish Tales

Emerald Coast fishing, Florida


“The age-old battle was on. With each successive ‘run-out’ and ‘wind-it-in,’ we got ready for boat-side battle…We had no idea what we had on the line. It could have been a hooked swordfish or marlin. We had even heard of a boat fighting a foul-hooked manta ray for hours till they were able to see it at daybreak. Or it could be an extra large swordfish,” (as told by Destin visitor Allan Silzle).

From grown men channeling Hemingway’s “Old Man and the Sea” to wide-eyed children reeling in a first fish, the Emerald Coast is the ideal location to exchange favorite fish tales. Located on the upper Gulf coast of Florida and known as the “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village,” the Emerald Coast offers a fish-filled experience complete with deep-sea and inshore fishing excursions, lessons from old salts who know the Gulf waters like the back of their hands and cooking tips from seasoned chefs at authentic seafood joints. Whether a father and son or a group of lifelong friends, male bonding amidst the open ocean encourages the creation of long-lasting tales.




Home to the country’s largest fishing fleet, the Emerald Coast makes it easy to hone the inner angler with access to the secret nooks and crannies of the Gulf by skilled captains who have salt water running through their veins. On deep-sea fishing excursions, fishermen -- both the avid and the novice – search the fruitful waters in search of mighty King Mackeral, coral Mingo Snapper, strong-jawed Trigger Fish and Black Fin Tuna while back-bay trips produce abundant catches of Speckled Trout and Redfish. Available excursions last anywhere from four to 12 hours and include a fishing license, bait, tackle, ice and deck hands to clean and cut the boatload.

Destin boasts a natural wonder -- the underwater 100 Fathom Curve -- which draws closer to Destin than to any other spot in Florida, creating the speediest deep-water access on the Gulf. This phenomenon not only makes the area the “Billfish Capital of the World” with a world record catch of 1,061 lbs, but is also responsible for yielding the freshest and largest variety of seafood in Florida (with the exception of the Keys). Fishermen bring the day’s catch to Lucky Snapper to taste first hand the ‘you catch ‘em, we cook ‘em’ philosophy. The entire boatload is cooked to the individual taste, and served with Lucky Snapper’s special fixings. At AJ’s Seafood & Oyster Bar, fellows flying solo without wives turn to the seasoned chefs to prepare their edible trophies from blackened and broiled to butter-drenched.





Photo: Visit Florida









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