Captain’s Corner: Dave Mistretta

The Tampa Bay Times

Mild weather has been allowed many anglers to get out on the water. Calm seas have made all options easier for an offshore adventure. We fished within 20 miles and was rewarded with with  gag groupers, snappers, grunts and porgies. The gag grouper season is closed for recreational anglers until June, but  still provide some great catch and release action.  A quick picture before releasing them back to the wild, can still serve up some impressive bragging rights.  

     Commercial gag grouper season remains open. This confuses many clients, since they see the fresh grouper on the menu, but have to release a big gag grouper. It’s the way our fish regulations are set up. Commercial and recreational fishing are two different identities with different  quotas. 

         A  few keeper red grouper are being landed in the shallower depths inside 20 miles, but no realnumbers at this time. A ten  mile run further out has been holding better numbers.  

   Colder weather is coming in our near future.  With the cold air will be  strong winds and rough seas. Savor the great spell of warm weather we are experencing at the moment.

    Capt. Dave Mistretta Jawstoo Pro Team   (727)439-2628