Captain’s Corner: Dave Zalewski

Dave Zalewski

460-9893

Before the back to back storms entered the gulf and effectively stopped the offshore fishing, trolling for a variety of species such as Spanish mackerel, barracuda, bonita and amberjack had become part of our daily routine. Once the water clears up and the waves subside it will not take long for targeting these species to begin. Spanish mackerel will be found near every pass entering the gulf. The best time to target them in these close to shore waters is on an outgoing tide which carries food for them from the bays. Shrimp, small baitfish and crabs of all sizes will be easy picking for the mackerel. On many days the western edge of the tide line can be easily seen. The water will be very clean on the west side of the line and discolored on the east side. Trolling along this line with small spoons in an in and out pattern usually produces mackerel. They seem to lie in wait in the dirty water and ambush any prey that has been swept into the clean water. Barracuda and bonita will be found on the mid water artificial reefs striking both spoons, large plugs and slow trolled live blue runners. Spanish mackerel will also be in attendance and can be caught by downsizing to 0 or 1 spoons behind a #1 or #2 planer. Amberjack will be found on most of the wrecks in 60 feet of water or deeper. They will strike deep diving plugs and large spoons. The best bait to entice them is a large live blue runner hooked through the nose or through the shoulder and slow trolled over the structure. We like to troll two at a time with one hooked through the nose and the other through the shoulder. The one hooked through the shoulder will run deeper helping tp prevent tangling lines.