What kind of fish can i catch from the Jetties?
A wide variety of fish may be caught from the jetty. In fact, just about any of the saltwater fish in this area except the big game fish
have been caught there. One of the major factors in catching fish there is the time of year due to migration patterns of the various fish.
Here is a general idea by the time of year.
JANUARY: Redfish, Sheepshead, Grouper, Flounder
FEBRUARY: Redfish, Sheepshead, Grouper
MARCH: Redfish, Sheepshead, Bluefish, Pompano, Cobia, Spanish Mackerel
APRIL: Redfish, Sheepshead, Bluefish, Pompano, Spanish Mackerel, Cobia. Baitfish also start showing up.
MAY: Redfish, Bluefish, Pompano, Spanish Mackerel, King Mackerel, Ladyfish, Bonito, and baitfish.
JUNE: Bluefish, Spanish Mackerel, Bonito, Ladyfish, Mangrove Snapper and baitfish.
JULY: Bluefish, Spanish Mackerel, Mangrove Snapper, Lady Fish, Bonito and baitfish.
AUGUST: Bluefish, Spanish Mackerel, Mangrove Snapper, Ladyfish, Bonito and baitfish.
SEPTEMBER: Bluefish, Spanish Mackerel, Mangrove Snapper, Grouper, Ladyfish, Bonito and baitfish.
OCTOBER: Redfish, Bluefish, Mangrove Snapper, Grouper, Spanish Mackerel, Flounder, Last of the
baitfish for the season.
NOVEMBER: Redfish, Mangrove Snapper, Bluefish, Grouper, Flounder. Baitfish are pretty much gone by now.
DECEMBER: Redfish, Grouper, Sheepshead, Bonito
Fishing the tip of the east jetty on a summer morning. Fishing the tip of the east Destin jetty, west jetty in the distance East jetty The east jetty seen from the sea A WORD OF CAUTION: The jetties are constructed of large car-size boulders. There is no smooth walkway on them. To get to the end, you need to step from one boulder to the next. There are drops of over 20' in between the rocks. Also, under certain weather conditions, the ocean waves will reach the top of the jetty. People have been swept off of them by waves. The jetties are no place for young children. |
WHAT DO I NEED TO TAKE TO THE JETTY
What you take depends on a lot of factors, ie, what fish you are targeting, time of the year, your preference. This is just a guide to
start with and is not the final answer.
1. Two rod & reels
a. Light weight rod/reel/line for fishing surface lures.
- ROD: 6-7' Light action
- REEL: Light weight spinning or bait casting reel
- LINE: 8 to 12# test, monofilament or braid
b. Medium weight rod/reel/line for bottom fishing
- ROD: 8-10' Medium-heavy action
- REEL: Medium action spinning reel
- LINE: 20 TO 30# test, monofilament or braid
2. Terminal tackle and lures:
a. Gotchas, rigged with 3-4' 40# fluorocarbon leader or wire.
b. Pompano jigs, your choice. White head with pink tail always a good one. Tied directly to your main line, no leader required.
c. Fish finder rigs for live bait
d. Chicken (Dropper) rigs
e. Egg sinkers, 2, 4, 6 oz
f. Pyramid sinkers, 2, 4, 6 oz
g. Circle hooks, 2/0, 4/0, 6/0 as needed
h. Swivels, 80#
i. Bubble rigs, 2
j. Bait as desired (Squid, shrimp, etc)
3. Back pack or shoulder bag to carry
everything in.
4. Hat
5. Water and other beverage of choice
6. Sun Block
7. Needle nose pliars
8. Knife
9. Bag or cooler to carry your fish home in. I use a soft side cooler with shoulder strap. Place you my water/drinks in a plastic bag in
this bag to keep separate from the fish and bait. Enough ice for the trip.(If possible, gut the fish there)
10. Landing net or gaff. For the large fish. Sometimes you can not get down to the water level due to the waves
11. Good pair of soft sole shoes to walk on the rocks with.
12. Food as desired
13. # 6 or # 8 hook Sabiki rigs if you plan to catch live bait
14. Towel for holding fish, wiping hands.
15. Fishing license (Effective August 1, 2009, anyone fishing from the jetties must have a Florida Fishing License, includes Florida
residents and non Florida residents)
16. Measuring stick. The Florida Sportsman magazine produces a measuring stick, called the Law Stick, that is stamped with the
appropriate size limits for Florida's saltwater fish and is real handy. These are sold at Walmart, Bass Pro, and other tackle and bait
stores. Half Hitch Tackle also has their own version.
17. Copy of Florida Fishing regulations with size limits, etc. You can pick up at copy at Walmart, other sporting stores, or by ordering
online at: FLORIDA SALTWATER FISHING REGULATIONS
NOTE: Fishing regulations change often. Check the FWCs Hot Topics site for the latest: FWC HOT TOPICS
TO PRINT THIS LIST, CLICK HERE: FISHING DESTIN JETTIES CHECKLIST
LICENSES REQUIREMENTS
FLORIDA RESIDENTS: Effective August 1, 2009, Florida residents who fish from shore or a structure affixed to shore will need to
buy a $7.50 (plus administrative and handling fees of approximately $1.50) shoreline fishing license, unless they have a regular
resident saltwater fishing license.
NON-FLORIDA RESIDENTS: Saltwater license required. You can get these at most sporting stores, Walmart, etc. If you have a
major credit card, the FWC offers you 2 ways to buy your hunting or fishing license without leaving your home.
Follow this link to buy your license online. FLORIDA FISHING LICENSES ONLINE*(A $2.25 + 2.5% surcharge of total sale per
person will be added to your purchase.)
Dial toll-free, either 1-888-HUNT-FLORIDA (486-8356) or 1-888-FISH-FLORIDA (347-4356) from anywhere in the United States or
Canada. (A $3.25 + 2.5% surcharge of total sale per person will be added to your purchase.)
With either method, you'll have a temporary license number within minutes, enabling you to hunt (in season) or fish right away. Your
permanent license will be mailed within 48 hours.
Fishing the Destin Jetties |
Destin East Pass Jetties
Fishing the Destin East Pass jetties is an experience into itself.
You are at the heart of Destin's fishing, the east pass, and have a
ring-side seat to all of the boat traffic that comes and goes from
the Destin harbor. And, you can catch fish here just about all the
time.
With the daily tidal changes coming through the east pass, the
jetties are a prime feeding area for the predators of the ocean:
shark, king and spanish mackerel, bluefish, grouper, redfish,
flounder, trout, sheepshead,and a wide variety of baitfish. The
sunrises and sunsets are spectacular, with an unencumbered
view of the beach.
Destin East Pass History
The twin east pass channel jetties were constructed in 1969 by
the US Corps of Engineers. They guard the East Pass Channel
from the sifting sands of the Gulf of Mexico.
The channel is dredged on a periodic basis by the US Army
Corps of Engineers to maintain a mean channel depth of
approximately 14.5 feet. The east pass channel is the only outlet
to the gulf for the 100 miles of coastline between Pensacola and
Panama City. For a history and historical pictures of the Destin
East Pass, go to Destin East Pass History .
Fishing the Destin East Pass jetties is an experience into itself.
You are at the heart of Destin's fishing, the east pass, and have a
ring-side seat to all of the boat traffic that comes and goes from
the Destin harbor. And, you can catch fish here just about all the
time.
With the daily tidal changes coming through the east pass, the
jetties are a prime feeding area for the predators of the ocean:
shark, king and spanish mackerel, bluefish, grouper, redfish,
flounder, trout, sheepshead,and a wide variety of baitfish. The
sunrises and sunsets are spectacular, with an unencumbered
view of the beach.
Destin East Pass History
The twin east pass channel jetties were constructed in 1969 by
the US Corps of Engineers. They guard the East Pass Channel
from the sifting sands of the Gulf of Mexico.
The channel is dredged on a periodic basis by the US Army
Corps of Engineers to maintain a mean channel depth of
approximately 14.5 feet. The east pass channel is the only outlet
to the gulf for the 100 miles of coastline between Pensacola and
Panama City. For a history and historical pictures of the Destin
East Pass, go to Destin East Pass History .
| DESTIN WEST JETTY The west jetty is the longest jetty and takes the most time to get to the end (45 minutes to an hour walk). Access it by parking on the southwest end of the Destin Hwy 98 bridge and walking along the shore of the east pass. West Jetty Parking Area GPS coordinates N 30 23.28 W 086 31.20 Park in the designated area at the southwest end of the Destin Hwy 98 bridge. Note: The land west of Destin to Ft Walton Beach is federal property and is part of Eglin AFB. Parking area for the west Destin Jetty. Walk along the west shore of the east pass to get to the west jetty. You have to stay close to the shoreline as the area just south of it is a bird sanctuary and is posted DO NOT ENTER. Once you turn the bend, the west jetty will come into view. You are about a 15 minute walk to the rocks from here. The water is shallow all the way to the rocks. Once you reach the rocks, you will find the ocean side is filled in with soft sand. It will take you about 30 minutes to reach the end once you reach the rocks. A lot of careful walking from here on. The green stuff is very slippery. These are the rocks you will have to climb over. And the tide moves very fast at times. You fall in and you are out to sea. Lands end at the west jetty. |
| DESTIN EAST JETTY The east jetty is the easiest to get to and the shortest walk (20 to 30 minutes). Access it by turning south off of Hwy 98 by Target onto Gulfshore Drive. Follow Gulfshore Drive to the end of the street, along the south side of the Destin Harbor. East Jetty Osteen Beach Access Entrance GPS coordinates N 30 23.16 W 086 30.20 Park in the designated area on the north side of Gulfshore Drive along the Destin Harbor. You will need to arrive early in the summer to find a parking place. There is a sign "Osteen Public Beach Access" located on the south side of Gulfshore Drive noting the public entrance. A fresh water shower is available here to rinse the sand from your feet. There are no public toilet facilities near here. Follow the sand trail about 50 yards, following the white concrete fence on your right. The trail will open up onto the beach and the east pass. You will see the spur jetty and the east jetty in the distance. It is easier to walk on the wet sand than the soft stuff. In the summer, the dive and snorkelling boats will park in the sheltered area just north of the Spur Jetty. The spur jetty is the northern end of the east jetty and protrudes out into the east pass. It is relatively short. The end of the Spur jetty is a good fishing place as the deep ship channel runs near it. There is a good hole on the northwest end of the spur jetty The start of the east jetty from the spur jetty Looking back north from the east jetty toward the Spur Jetty. The morning boat parade in the summer End of the East Jetty. Sometimes the waves will prevent you from getting this close to the water. |
View Destin East Pass Jetties in a larger map
How do I get out to the jetties? |
