Captain’s Corner: Dave Zalewski

The Tampa Bay Times

The red tide has eliminated the fishing for Spanish mackerel near the shoreline and in the passes that we are able to experience at this time of year. The pelagic fish such as Spanish mackerel, kingfish, Bonita and barracuda move offshore to where they are not affected. The nearshore reefs that we usually  fish, St Pete Beach , Treasure Island and Madeira Beach are all holding Spanish Mackerel, barracuda and some bonita. These reefs are usually a first stop on our way offshore to bottom fish and have produced well every day for the past week. These reefs are 2000 feet long and 600 feet wide. The concrete structure is scattered in these rectangles and the key to success is trolling so that the lures are over the structure as much as possible. Number 1 planers and small spoons are the key for mackerel. For the other species a #2 planer and a large spoon are needed. Slow trolling large baits caught on site are also an option.

Now that recreational red snapper season has come to a close, red and gag grouper, Lane snapper, white grunts along with the other bottom fish will be targeted. The “Swiss cheese” hard bottom areas in 80 to 90 feet are the areas that we have been fishing. The transition zone where the sand bottom turns to rock is where the majority of the larger fish reside and it pays off to spend time searching for that sweet spot with your bottom machine. Pinfish have been hard to secure in our pinfish. Frozen squid and sardines have been working well along with live sardines caught on site with a sabiki rig. Use of a 3 or 4 ounce sinker will help in keeping the rig from tangling in the deeper depths