Did you know that the reason Destin is called "the world's luckiest fishing village" is because there is a HUGE, DEEEEEEEEP underwater 'canyon' just a few miles off shore in the Gulf called the "Desoto Canyon?"

It's one of the closest harbors to that sort of deep water in the world. That's why all those expensive private fishing yachts are in the harbor and why they catch more big game fish in Destin waters.

Just a little fishing tip for ya. :D

For those of you heading to the Emerald Coast in the future to try your hand at some fishing, take a peek at the who you'll need to help you catch the BIG ONES.........the Charter Boats!

http://www.tripsmarter.com/destin/ch...hing/index.htm

So tell me more about the Canyon. How long of a charter does it take to get there?
I'm from the Atlanta area, moving to BlueWaterBay in June; we just aquired a place last month just down from the marina, and we have been coming to the Emerald Coast for 20 plus years.
I've thrown a few crab traps in, cast for shrimp, party boated, half and all day chartered, but I have never gone to the canyon for the Tuna and Blue and Bull.
I know you can be in 90 to 100 feet of water about five miles off shore, how far to the canyon?

I hope to post often, want to learn the area; you know like local watering holes from Val to Niceville to where-ever, good eateries and local services.
I joke about moving to Destin, start a charter boat and call it "The Buzzard". If all goes well the first year, I would buy a second boat just like the first and call it "The Buzzard Too". If all goes well the second year, I'd repeat and buy a third and call it "Tres Boozard". I definately have way too much thought in this!

I'll be down from Sept,16-23, and the only plans so far is to take the Boater Safety course at Eglin so that I can rent their boats. Would like to find out about the Canyon and charters to it!

Thanks Much,
Buzzard

Sounds like you have it all figured out, Buzzard! I love a guy with a plan! Hey - exact description and location of Desoto Canyon can be found at this site:

http://walrus.wr.usgs.gov/pacmaps/ds-index.html

Good luck fishing!

Hey Webguys,
I wasn't expecting a response so quickly, thanks.
Love this website, I have used charlestonfishing.com quite abit, brother-in-law has a boat and two kids in charleston, and if we're not down here on the coast, we're out there. Lots of fun both places, but you see where I'm moving to.

I'll talk later, have to go work a 4-12 tonight, can't wait until June '07!!!

Again, thanks much,

by the way, have you been to the Canyon and if so, what'd ya think?

Buzard

Buzzard! I don't have any additional info on Desoto, but I'm sure someone who does will come along soon...

Look forward to more posts from you. You will love the Blue Water Bay area... and the rest of the Panhandle!

Hey WebTeam,
good stuff on the canyon, I'm still looking for someone who has been.

In the meantime, the link below will take you to Dr. Samantha Joye; Professor in micro bio-geochemical marine sciences at the University of Georgia, who has been diving in the Johnson II and other deep diving submersibles in the Gulf, for some time now. My son, has had the privilege of working in Dr. Joye's lab since 2003; now a senior majoring in biology, he hopes to possibly do his graduate work in Hawaii. (you go boy) He calls Dr. Joye, "Hey Blood" because she is his cuz!

Anyway, after readiing the articles on the canyon I couldn't resist throwing this in.

The article on the canyon seems to indicate a well structured food chain that supports a good variety. I'm curious if it's year round or subject to the currents?

Later,
Buzzard





http://www-ocean.tamu.edu/Quarterdec...macdonald.html

Hey SWN5363,

Yeah, I'm really looking forward to getting back to the coast!
I've got a sister who's been in Gulf Breeze for 30yrs and I lived in Pensacola way back when, even attended WoodHam High.

'ppreciate the welcome,

Buzard

Ran across this article about Desoto Canyon and the fishing there, sounds good!

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/08/21/Sp...g_report.shtml

Thanks,

Buzzard

You need to see the record breaking swordfish (link below) just caught at the edge of the DeSoto Canyon by a charter boat from Orange Beach, AL.
http://www.orangebeach.ws/newsweather/swordfish.html

WOW!!! Thaks for the link - that's a monster! Kinda ironic about catching it on the anniversary of Ivan.

How has Orange Beach recovered, btw? Haven't been down 98 that far in quite a while...

Orange Beach is coming along nicely! The beaches have been refurbished and are better than ever. Lots of nice new city facilities at the public beach accesses. All businesses that survived are open and some new restaurants. The Wharf (movies, shopping, dining, an amphitheater, marina, & resort) just opened this summer. The condos that were not demolished have all been repaired.The fishing, as always, has been fabulous. It will probably look a little different than the last time you saw it but still as beautiful as ever. You need to come check it out.

Glad to hear the good news! I always liked Orange Beach, but I haven't been there since the late 90s (I used to deliver beach supplies to retailers from PCB to Orange Beach...)

We'll visit soon!

(btw, welcome to the forums!)