Captain’s Corner: Brent Gaskill

The Tampa Bay Times

Capt. Brent Gaskill
 
 
 

        Spanish mackerel have gathered just off our beaches and the action has been good.  Trolling spoons is the traditional method for locating and catching these fish.  Keeping an observant eye on bird activity will often lead you right to feeding fish where the spoons can be trolled around the perimeter of the activity.  My preferred method for targeting Spanish mackerel is to anchor over known structure and catch them using live bait.  This tactic allows the use of much lighter tackle and amps up the fun factor.  10-pound braided line on a 4000-size reel and matching rod is more than adequate for Spanish mackerel.  On the rigging end I use a no. 1 gold hook on a short trace of light wire. All of my wire rigs are pre-tied without swivels.  When fishing from an anchored position, the use of a frozen chum block will help draw fish in from a distance and hold them around the boat.  This tactic will also bring other species to the party. It’s not uncommon for kingfish to show up and take the same baits intended for the Spanish.  We’ve landed kingfish up to 35-pounds using the same tackle.  On my last charter this past weekend sharks in the 4-foot class came in and ate our little 3-inch baits swimming back in the chum slick.  Quickly releasing the anchor on a float to follow these larger predators with the boat is necessary to land them on the lighter gear.