DESTIN LINKS
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Fishing
Wacky Fun


Writer G.K. Sharman aboard the Nathaniel Bowditch.

Destin, continued


Destin is home to the largest and most elaborately equipped charter fleet in Florida. It's also home to an annual billfish tournament, a cobia tournament and a big-deal fishing rodeo that attracts thousands of anglers from around the world.

History
A Connecticut fisherman named Leonard Destin arrived in the area back in the 1830s and noticed that a person could stand on shore and clearly watch anglers wrestle big gamefish - as well as grouper and snapper and nice fat tuna - onto boats near shore. The fishing is so good because the water is deep close to shore. A quick geology lesson: a feature the experts call the "100-fathom curve" - the point where the water reaches 100 fathoms, or 600 feet - is closer to the shore in Destin t than anyplace else along the Florida coast. That's where the big fish live, and eager deep-sea anglers can get out there quick.

What lurks in the waters? Cobia, red snapper, dolphin, grouper, pompano, flounder, red drum, speckled trout, king mackerel, amberjack, ladyfish, tarpon, blue marlin, sheepshead, triggerfish and billfish of all varieties, among others.

Destin, continued