http://www.tampabay.com/sports/outdoors/captains-corner-a-bad-time-for-trolling/2327044
With a choice among trolling and bottom fishing, bottom fishing only or trolling only, most anglers like to do some trolling on high-profile structures such as artificial reefs and wrecks on the way to the deeper depths for bottom fishing. Trolling has been worse than at this time last year. Spanish mackerel have been scattered, barracuda are in short supply and kingfish seem to have left the area. Baitfish schools we are used to seeing have been nonexistent, and that may be why trolling has been off. Every day is different offshore, and tomorrow may be the day the bait and its predators show up in force. We have been concentrating our bottom fishing in 70 to 100 feet and have been rewarded with a variety of bottom fish. Lane, yellowtail, and vermillion snapper in numbers have been found on the Swiss cheese hard-bottom areas deeper than 80 feet. The key to coming back with a colorful box of these great eating fish is to use tackle that is as light as possible; 12- to 20-pound tackle, the same used for freshwater bass fishing, is ideal for these fish. All that is needed are small 2/0 or 3/0 circle hooks, as light of a swivel sinker as possible to get the bait to the bottom, and a light knocker rig, where a sliding sinker is allowed to butt directly to the hook. Squid strips or chunks of Spanish sardine is the bait of choice. Grouper also inhabit these areas and will take the same baits.
Dave Zalewski charters the Lucky Too out of Madeira Beach. Call (727) 397-8815.
- Jay Mastry - March 26, 2024
- Captains Corner, Gorta - March 23, 2024
- Dave Zalewski - March 12, 2024
