Captain’s Corner: Brent Gaskill

The Tampa Bay Times

Capt. Brent Gaskill
 
 
 

        I ran the most pleasant trip early last week with a retired couple that loves to fish.  He enjoys casting artificial lures and she simply likes catching fish. I’m often asked what my favorite kind of fishing is and my answer usually comes as a surprise.  Most expect to hear of some exotic species or a large game fish.  My answer has remained the same over the years; I enjoy trout fishing with artificial lures.  Casting plastic tail jigs and top water plugs while drifting across grass flats is what I grew up doing.  This particular trip offered the chance to do just that and revisit many spots off Pinellas Point that I haven’t fished in years.  The first cast of the day was rewarded with a 20” spotted sea trout on a float-and-jig combination.  We connected with many more trout on both jigs and top-waters throughout the morning.  I even lucked into a large Spanish mackerel that was cruising around one of the deeper sandy holes scattered throughout the grass beds.  We ended the trip by changing tactics and positioning ourselves near an exposed oyster bar fishing with cut bait.  This is where the Misses landed a big snook as our grand finale to the morning.  All fish caught were gently released in an effort to maintain the improved fishery we have experienced with the current inshore closures.