Destin fishing report for the week of September 24, 2026. The fall pattern is fully in place on the Emerald Coast. Kingfish are close to the beach, the bull reds are in the pass, and the offshore wrecks are holding amberjack and other reef species. With the full moon Saturday, the tides are big and the fish are feeding.
What’s Hitting
This week on the water, king mackerel are the main attraction, feeding on bait schools just off the beach and around the nearshore reefs. Bull redfish are stacked in East Pass and along the jetties, feeding hard on the outgoing tide. Offshore, greater amberjack, triggerfish, and vermilion snapper are on the wrecks and natural bottom. Inside Choctawhatchee Bay, speckled trout and slot reds are active on the grass flats, and Spanish mackerel are busting bait around the pass.
Where to Find Them
Kings are on the bait pods in 30 to 80 feet just off the beach from Destin to Fort Walton. Bull reds are in East Pass and around the jetties. Amberjack are on the deeper wrecks and artificial reefs in 100 feet and beyond. Trout and slot reds are on the grass flats along the north shore of Choctawhatchee Bay and around the Mid-Bay Bridge.
Tides & Conditions
With the full moon on Saturday, East Pass is running hard on both tides. The best bull red bite has been in the first part of the outgoing. Water temps are in the low 80s and the Gulf has been fairly calm, but this is still hurricane season, so keep an eye on the forecast.
Tackle & Tactics
For kings, slow-troll live cigar minnows, menhaden, or blue runners on a stinger rig with light wire. For bull reds in the pass, drop a live pinfish or a cut bait on a heavy fish-finder rig with a circle hook. For amberjack, a live bait or a heavy vertical jig dropped to the wreck is a proven approach. Use heavy tackle to pull the fish away from the structure.
Local Intel This Week
The Destin Harbor has many charter options, and the Joe’s Bayou Recreation Area ramp is a good public ramp for access to the bay and pass. The Okaloosa Island Pier is a great spot for shore anglers to target kings and Spanish. Fish are concentrating in East Pass and around the bait pods off the beach. Reef fish seasons are set by both state and federal managers, so check current FWC and NOAA Fisheries regulations before keeping fish.
This Week’s Tip
Kingfish often feed just below bait pods. When you find a pod, slow-troll your live bait along the edges and at different depths until you find where the kings are holding.
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