Captain’s Corner: Brent Gaskill

The Tampa Bay Times

Capt. Brent Gaskill
 
 
 

        It’s Spring Break season and the kids are out of school.  Many families are looking for outdoor activities to enjoy with their children and fishing the Tampa Bay area offers many options.  From inshore to offshore it’s a great time of year to fish.  Migratory species are travelling throughout our waters and resident fish have become active with the influx of baitfish. I’ve been running several family oriented charters with young children from pre-k age to middle school. Focusing on scattered hard bottom areas around the mouth of the bay has kept everyone onboard busy catching fish. These areas are natural limestone outcroppings with live growth like sea fans and sponges that are like an oasis to the sandy bottom surroundings.  Like an oasis in the desert, these areas draw in other life because of a food source.  Our recent catches have included black sea bass, lane snapper, mangrove snapper, white grunts, silver trout, both gag and red grouper, and Spanish mackerel, all from a single anchor position.  The wide variety of species caught has led to educational discussions with the children on fishing conservation and careful release techniques.