Jay Mastry

Tampa Bay Times

Other than a minor setback due to the weekends’ weather, conditions have become fit for a king.  Kingfish, that is.  Water temperature is where they prefer it and bait has stacked up where it traditionally does.  The Skyway fishing piers and the gulf pier at Ft. Desoto included.  Waters have muddied a bit due to strong winds and rain and runoff but will cleanse quickly aided by strong tides influenced by the current full moon and forecasted easterly wind flow.  Land based anglers on the Skyway fishing piers have already hauled some kings over the rails.  A couple “smokers” in the 30 to 40 pound class among em’.  There has been some “schoolie” sized kings mixed in with mackerel reported caught around the mid markers of the ships channel.  A few others in the “parking lot”, an area of hard bottom 6 miles west of Blinds Pass, in 30 feet.  Anchoring and chumming can be most effective if you have enough bait to do it right.  Slow trolling a large whitebait, greenback, Spanish sardine or cigar minnow can get the job done.  I’ve always liked offering at least one “monster” bait in our spread in hopes “Big Moe” is lurking about.  A mackerel, ladyfish, shad, mullet or blue runner are all good choices.  If you’ve not yet tied or twisted your stinger rigs… you best get to it.  Following this little weather system, I look for the big bunches of kings to begin showing up.  We have had some banner catches of kings on Easter over the years.

Captain Jay Mastry