Captain’s Corner: Dave Zalewski

The Tampa Bay Times

 Dave Zalewski 460-9893

The cold windy weather has not been conducive to running offshore and bottom fishing. The rapid drop of water temperatures near the shore has effectively put an end to our trolling season and we will be putting up the planers, spoons and plugs and directing our efforts towards red grouper, Lane snapper, white grunts, porgies and the other benthic fish in the 60 to 90 feet depths. Gag grouper fishing has been exceptional in the 40 to 60 depths whenever we have been able to venture out. This will end January 1 when the season will close. Both red grouper and Lane snapper will open then. Gag grouper are best targeted on higher profile structure such as limestone ledges and rock piles requiring heavier leaders and line. We found it necessary to switch to a long 80 pound test leader to prevent break offs from the sharp edges on the rock. Red grouper are best targeted on “Swiss Cheese” hard limestone bottom, with fewer protrusions and we will be downsizing both hook to 5/0 size and leader to 50 pound test.
Historically when the water temperature hovers around 60 degrees and lower the red grouper’s metabolism slows down and it takes some time on a spot to get them to bite. We always start out on a spot using squid, shrimp, and cut bait to get the smaller reef fish to bite which in turn will usually create interest from the larger fish. Two hook “chicken” rigs are used to create this interest and by the use of them a colorful box of delicious white grunts, Lane, vermillion, yellowtail and mangrove snapper will usually result.