http://www.tampabay.com/sports/outdoors/Captain-s-Corner-Grouper-fishing-open-in-20-fathoms-or-greater_166998124
Grouper fishing is open in depths greater than 20 fathoms, and the fishing in deeper water is as good as can be expected. Red and scamp Grouper have made it to their summertime areas and will continue to feed heavily here at the end of their spawning season. Look for best results fishing smaller structure between 160 and 240 feet of water for the next few months, and don’t forget the live bait as these fish will be very aggressive during this time. King mackerel are in full force, feeding on the abundant amounts of Spanish sardines and cigar minnows. Typically during this time you can stroll out to the shipping channel and find all you want, but this year seems to be a bit different. Concentrate on areas of hard-bottom in depths of 30-60 feet, anchor and start chumming with live pilchards. It should take about 15 minutes before they show up behind the boat, then be ready for a show. Double- and triple-headers are common, and you just might have one of these crazed fish land in your boat while they skyrocket baits swimming for their lives off your transom. Light-wire rigs with a single hook have worked best. Mangrove and yellowtail snapper fishing should pick up soon in shallower water. These fish are spawning and should start stacking up on every ledge and rock pile in the 70- to 120-foot depths during the next month. These fish have incredible eyesight and are wary of a presentation that looks suspicious so lighten your leader for more bites as the water clears.
Steve Papen charters out of Indian Shores and can be reached at (727) 642-3411 and fintasticinc.com.
- Jay Mastry - March 26, 2024
- Captains Corner, Gorta - March 23, 2024
- Dave Zalewski - March 12, 2024
