What had been a slow start to our fall run of kingfish has begun to pick up a notch. Thursday, while slow trolling over a patch of hard bottom in 23 feet, we landed seven kings during the last of the outgoing tide and beginning of the incoming. Each ate either a full grown shad or a ladyfish. Most of our fish were in the 20 pound range and we did manage one that was 36 pounds. Traditionally, it’s fairly common in these waves of early arrivals to find some monsters in the bunches. Many of these big stragglers roam near the beach in their hunt for something to eat. We were within a half mile from shore. Over the years, early season hot spots have included the Clearwater and Redington hard bottom areas in and around 20 feet. If the waters clean and baits there, I’ve always liked the Blinds Pass “drop” and other patches of hard bottom off St. Pete Beach in the same depths. Our success this fall run will largely depend on water quality. If it stays clean and uncontaminated, kings will follow schools of bait near shore and will settle in wherever the bait does. If not, they’ll be pushed offshore and hopefully not out and around us. Mangrove snapper are still chewing in the channel in Tampa Bay but you may have to bounce around a bit to find them. On our last trip to one of my favorite “honey holes”, fishing was slow. About a three mile move down the channel produced what we were looking for. Whitebait was the key and it’s abundant all along the Snell Isle flats.
- Jay Mastry - March 26, 2024
- Captains Corner, Gorta - March 23, 2024
- Dave Zalewski - March 12, 2024
