Family and friends on the water front

It doesn’t get much better than spending time with family and friends fishing — even if it’s a bit foggy

And this week has seen plenty of that, as families and spring breakers have invaded the Emerald Coast with some of them taking time out to relax and enjoy a day of fishing on one of Destin’s charters.

On Wednesday, the Doffing family of Texas had a big time fishing aboard the Double Time with Capt. Tim Adams. The group trolled around in the harbor and reeled in a good catch of Spanish mackerel and a couple of sheepshead. Captain said they lured in the mackerel using spoons.

For more fish photos from Wednesday, click here.

For more fish photos from Thursday, click here.

Jeff Clanton and his daughter Kelsey Clanton of Illinois pulled in a couple of big amberjack along with a few mingo, white snapper and a scamp while fishing on the Full Draw with Capt. Justin Destin.

Texas anglers on the First Light with Capt. Steve Hausler came in with some big fish. They had five amberjack and one bodiless amberjack, along with several mingo and white snapper.

“We lost a grouper and two amberjack,” one of the anglers said as the deckhand hung up their catch.

And the fate was the same for the grouper and amberjack — shark.

A group of family and friends from Texas had a good time on the Un Reel with Capt. Paul Dale Wagner. They reeled  in a few mingo and white snapper.

Texas anglers on the Checkmate 2 with Capt. George Eller pulled in 52 mingo and white snapper.

The party boat Destiny with Capt. Dennis Kendrick at the helm came in with several stringers filled with mingo, white snapper, red snapper and couple of lane snapper. The Destiny is one of three party boats in Destin that is part of a pilot program that allows them to keep red snapper.

Captain said they were fishing about 28 miles out.

“The fog was bad,” Kendrick said. “I didn’t know if  I was going to find my way home.”

But they did and they had plenty of fish to show for their efforts.

The fog continued to roll in Thursday, but it didn’t slow down the fishing.

Anglers on the Al-Lin with Capt. Allen Staples pulled in a limit of amberjack and about 40 mingo and white snapper.

“It was foggy but calm,” said Capt. Staples. “It was nice and the fish bit good.”

The Full Draw with Capt. Justin Destin had another good day on the water with a limit of amberjack and several mingo and white snapper.

Capt. Kelly Windes and his group of anglers on the Sunrisecame in with a limit of amberjack.

Texas and Illinois anglers on the Lucky Lina with Capt. Steve Lathi brought in several mingo and white snapper along with a Atlantic sharpnose shark.

“It was bad foggy today,” Lathi said. “You get out about five or six miles and you couldn’t see.”

Lathi said he was talking to several other boat captains around him, via the radio, but never saw them, the fog was so thick.

The Gulf Breeze was loaded with spring breakers. Capt. John Gibson and his group pulled in several stringers loaded with mingo, white snapper and lane snapper.

“It was mainly foggy … about a ¼ mile visibility, coming and going. I could hardly see the sea bouy coming  in,” Gibson said.

The Sweet Jody with Capt. Cliff Cox at the helm backed in with several stringers loaded with red snapper, mingo, white snapper and a scamp.

The party boat New Florida Girls’ American Spirit with Capt. Jim Green at the helm came in with three tubs loaded with fish. They had mingo, white snapper, lane snapper, several amberine and a red grouper in the mix.

“We got all the amberine on the last spot,” said Marlin Perry. “It was like a grand finale.”

Fishing is good, so grab the family and friends and come on down. Who knows, you may have a grand finale on the water.

See you at the docks.