Last Updated 3/29/20
New year, new blog! We'll be posting seasonal updates instead of monthly since the Destin way of life is greatly influenced by the changing seasons (Winter, Spring Break, Summer, Fall/October, and back to Winter). Feel free to peruse our 2019 monthly blogs anytime as they will be staying on the site. We'll be keeping a similar format, so you'll still be able to find out about local events, changes in fishing regulations in the area, and great recipes to try out. We hope 2019 treated y'all well and we look forward to a great 2020 Fishing Season! 🎣
If this is your first time reading about Charter Boat Rewind, welcome! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram to see more frequent updates, photos, and videos.
What to do in Destin?
*EVENTS HAVE CHANGED OR BEEN CANCELED DUE TO COVID-19*
This is a great time of year to visit the Emerald Coast on a budget. Hotels and condos tend to be cheaper since this is the off-season and you'll wait in fewer lines. However, you'll encounter many a snowbird and some cold, rainy weather.
The Rewind family enjoys spending time at home, visiting the deserted beaches, and of course fishing on the boat every now and again before busy Spring Break. We recommend the same! There are a couple holidays coming up such as Valentine's Day, Mardi Gras, and St. Patrick's Day.
Of course there are a number of restaurants welcoming couples on February 14th, a Friday this year. We recommend McGuire's, Harbor Docks, and Ruth's Chris for a white-tablecloth-and-steak evening. There are plenty of more casual places in the Harbor District as well. Rewind does offer romantic sunset cruises. Give Captain Reid a call at 850-797-7678 to plan your date. 💕
Mardi Gras is a fun time all along the Gulf of Mexico (especially Louisiana, Alabama, and the Panhandle of Florida). This year, the HarborWalk Parade will be on Saturday, February 22nd at 2:00p. If you're in the mood for traditional cajun fare, stop at Hebert's (pronounced ay-bear's) Specialty Meats.
What better place to be on St. Patrick's Day than McGuire's Irish Pub? Find great food, an Irish Wake or two, and a fun time there. There are also usually a couple Pub Crawls in the area. Keep in mind March 17th falls on a Tuesday this year.
Fishing News
Here's a sampling of our most recent catch, January 26, 2020:
The boys caught scamp, mingo, and a couple other snapper varieties.
Our favorite fish to catch in the Gulf: Red Snapper, Greater Amberjack, Gray Triggerfish, Gag Grouper, Vermillion Snapper (mingo), Scamp Grouper, King Mackerel, Cobia, Mahi Mahi, Blackfin Tuna, among other species.
According to the FWC, here are the following proposed regulations for the year:
Snapper: June 1-Aug 2
Jack: May, August-October (TENTATIVE)
Triggerfish: March-May, August-December (TENTATIVE)
Gags: June-December (TENTATIVE)
Mingo: year-round
Scamp: Not yet released
Kings: year-round
Cobia: year-round (common around April)
Mahi: year-round
Blackfin Tuna: year-round
It can be hard to find accurate regulation information online, but local fisherman always know what can be caught. Call Captain Reid to get the best idea of what you might catch on your trip this time of year.
Recipe
Any Fish, Fried
Captain Reid and his wife Linda have a hankering for fried fish every now and again. In the most recent case, we used frozen red snapper filets from Snapper Season 2019.
Ingredients: fish filets, panko, Zatarain's or other fish fry flavor, and dry oil. We used a deep fryer for this recipe.
Defrost your fish if necessary
Begin heating your oil to 375 degrees
Mix panko and seasoning in a gallon sized Ziploc bag
Toss defrosted fish in the bag mixture
Fry until color looks right (golden brown)
Serve with side items like fried okra and hushpuppies. Luckily, both can generally be found in the freezer section of your local grocery store!