Captains Corner, Dave Zalewski

The Tampa Bay Times

Dave Zalewski 460-9893

Just before and just after Thanksgiving the weather cooperated relatively well and we spent most of our time trolling for kingfish, Spanish mackerel, bonita, and barracuda. All of these species were encountered on the near shore and mid water artificial reefs along with some of the wrecks no deeper than 60 feet. Because the fish were biting so well, we stuck to trolling spoons and plugs behind 31 and 2 planers. The key was to maintain a speed of between 5.5 and 6 knots. Any faster than this causes the spoon to spin too much. The ideal speed causes the spoon to wobble, resembling a wounded baitfish. Slower speeds result in some strikes, but the predator has time to consider whether this flash is a wounded baitfish or something to avoid.
Fish have fins and tails and at this time of year they are in a migratory mood.
We had one of those ‘write home about” days the day before Thanksgiving at markers 1 and 2 catching kingfish, Spanish mackerel, bonita and were thrilled by large sharks eating our hooked fish right at the stern of the boat. Spanish mackerel and kingfish do not normally jump when hooked and are being brought in, when they do jump out of the water you can be sure a larger predator is on its tail. Returning to 1&2 two days later produced 1 bonita. We had to return to one of the artificial reefs that we had passed right by on the way out without stopping. Lesson learned; stop and check out places that may be holding fish before making a long run, because the “grass is always greener” the further we go. We should have great trolling until the water temperature dips below 68 degrees whish usually signals the end of fall trolling season

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