Captain’s Corner: Dave Zalewski

The Tampa Bay Times

Dave Zalewski 460-9893

Don’t give up on the kingfish yet. All of our recent trips have consisted of part trolling and part bottom fishing. The trolling has been conducted on artificial reefs, wrecks and the buoys along the shipping channel depending on which direction we choose in traveling to the 90 foot depths. Every compass course heading westward will take one near a near shore or mid water artificial reef. The GPS coordinates and a description of what each reef consists of can be found by searching the internet for Pinellas County Artificial Reefs
We have caught Spanish mackerel, kingfish and bonita on most trips by using #2 and #3 planers followed by 30 feet of leader and a large Drone spoon. The water temperatures are now in the 80’s and the fish seem to be more active in the cooler water near the bottom, hence the use of larger planers which take the spoons into the comfort zone.
We have been having more success targeting the 80 to 90 foot depths for red grouper, white grunts, Lane, mangrove, and vermillion snapper along with triggerfish. Triggerfish are now open with a bag limit of 1 per person and a minimum fork length of 15 inches. Down sizing to a 3/0 strong circle hook will allow one to return to shore with a tasty box of fish. The snapper and triggerfish have smaller mouths and can more easily caught by use of a smaller hook