Captains Corner Dave Zalewski

The Tampa Bay Times

 Dave Zalewski 460-9893

Now that both red and gag grouper have become catch, photo, shed a tear, and release, we have turned our focus to different benthic species while bottom fishing. White grunts; Lane, vermillion, yellowtail and mangrove snapper and porgies have become our targets of choice. To return to port with a colorful box of these delicious tasting fish requires a change in both tackle and bait. We have downsized our tackle to 2 or 3 ounce sinkers and 3/0 extra strong circle hooks rigged on a three way swivel with the bottom hook consisting of a knocker rig about a foot from the swivel and the upper hook suspended about 4 inches above that. Spinning rods and reels are sufficient as these fish to not run very large. Baits are strip of squid, frozen or fresh shrimp or small pieces of frozen sardine or thread fin. 60 foot depths are sufficient for all of the above species with the exception of vermillion snapper which rarely are caught inside of 75 feet. When the current is not running strong offshore chumming with slivers of bait cut with a pair of scissors will get the bite started and will often bring these fish up from the depths where they can be seen. When this occurs, switch to a light spinning rod a 1/0 or 2/0 hook attached directly to the line and baited with a same sized sliver of bait. This is especially effective when the yellowtail snapper show up in the chum slick.
Mackerel fishing has been disappointing for the past few trips with a few fish being caught on the artificial reefs probably because of a lack of mature baitfish. There are juvenile baitfish and once they grow, the mackerel may return.

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