Captain’s Corner: Dave Zalewski

The Tampa Bay Times

Dave Zalewski 460-9893

Now that red grouper and triggerfish harvesting has been closed we have found it necessary to change tactics when targeting the other bottom fish that are open in the offshore water. White grunts, Lane snapper, porgies, yellowtail snapper, hogfish and sea bass all make for a colorful and tasty box of fish. All of these species inhabit the same hard limestone outcroppings that the red grouper do. Downsizing tackle is a must and also contributes to a more sporting way of catching them. 20 pound spinning or bait casting tackle is all that is needed coupled with a 2 hook dropper rig with the sinker below the hooks. Circle hooks should be reduced to a 3/0 or 4/0 size because of the smaller mouths of the snapper family members. Bait should consist of the usual squid or frozen Spanish sardines pieces cut down to match hook size. If hogfish are included in the targeted species shrimp either live or frozen must be included.

The beach fishing for Spanish mackerel has been disappointing as of late, but the near shore artificial reefs continue to hold numbers of them. A few kingfish have been caught and as the season nears reports will increase. It pays to deploy a flatline while bottom fishing with either a frozen sardine or one caught on site by use of a sabiki while anchored.