Captain’s Corner: Ed Walker

By Ed Walker

Weather is the biggest factor in fishing right now. Migratory fish such as mackerel, cobia, and kingfish are just to our south waiting for the water temperature to stabilize. At least twice lately these fish have poured into the Tampa Bay area when temperatures were at the warmest, only to be pushed back to the south with each passing cold front.

When we finally have an extended warm spell do not wait until you hear or read about the kingfish moving in. Bring the right gear on each trip. Even a modest increase in water temperature may trigger and epic bite before anyone even realizes the fish are here. One sign that today is the day will be schools of baitfish offshore. Threadfins and Spanish sardines are temperature sensitive, but they have a hardwired predisposition to move north in the spring. They have been bouncing in and out of town for several weeks, but blasts of cold air keep stalling their northerly migration.

If you are offshore and see the high-diving birds this may be a sign that you have found not only the bait, but also the kings. In the spring kingfish schools often bunch up very tightly and follow the bait. It is a good idea to stop, sabiki some of the bait, and send a few out on wire rigs. Slowly troll them around the perimeter of the bait pod for just a pass or two. It won’t work every time but when it does it does the action can be amazing.