Skyway Report, Paul Bristow 8/12/2016

Schools of jack crevalle were crushing baitfish schools at the Sunshine Skyway Fishing Piers this past week.  Most of the jacks were in the 1 – 2 lb. range, but a few larger fish were occasionally mixed into the batch.  Baitfish activity at the piers is very easy to spot because it looks like rain falling on the water.  When jacks school in open water, often the top portion of their head is exposed at the surface.  Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and blue runners were also somewhat in the mix with the jacks, and the mackerel that were taken were often in excess of 20″ in length.  Gotcha lures and white nylon jigs are perhaps the best artificial baits for jack action at the piers.  Although many anglers frown on these fish as table fare, the smaller jacks can be excellent eating when bled upon catching and removing the dark lateral line.  They can be fried, grilled or chunked for soups and chowders.  Many pier visitors also savor ‘salt jack’ which involves rubbing a fillet and drying it in the sun.  The preserved fish can then be eaten as a fish jerky or used in a variety of other dishes.

Mangrove snapper have been one main storyline since April, and I suspect they will continue to be part of the scoop until cooler weather touches the Tampa Bay region.  Many anglers who regularly fish the Skyway Piers now immediately release smaller (but legal) sized snappers expecting they will get a limit of larger fish.  Plenty of limits I saw this past week did not have any fish under 12″…  This is not because they were not caught, but instead because the anglers were so confident in the bite that they did not even take smaller fish to the tape.  Scaled sardines and threadfin herring continue to be the best cut baits, and small (silver dollar) sized pinfish continue to excel for the dedicated anglers looking for fish pushing 20″ in length.  After they were done fishing, some anglers got together to enjoy snapper sashimi on the pier with an assortment of sauces and sides.  Such culinary gatherings are common when bonito visit the Skyway Piers at various times of the year.

Cownose rays gathered in such vast numbers that visitors even reported the massive schools to pier staff.  Several times each fishing season, these rays will congregate in the thousands and travel in and out of the pier spans.  Cownose rays are one ray species that will attack artificial lures – most especially jigs.  Most species of rays can be eaten, and many anglers compare the flesh to scallops.  Your author’s first-hand experience after eating various ray species suggests that perhaps folks making such comparisons have never eaten fresh scallops from Homosassa.  In any event, the common stingray and skate are my favorite rays from a culinary standpoint.  Cownose rays, however, are one of the finest baits available for large sharks and also attract nomadic species such as pompano, cobia and redfish to their large groups because their travels stir-up so many crustacions.  Savvy pier anglers should never discount the potential to watch for predators following these schools and the opportunity to present the perfect cast.

Goliath grouper have dogged plenty of anglers over the past week.  Several reports of snapper and grouper being grabbed off the hook by these bridge busters echoed throughout the pier community.  These fish are the largest member of the Grouper Family of Fishes and are essentially opportunity feeders…  When injured or struggling fish are nearby, they will strike out and most often win any battle that ensues.  Anglers seeking to subdue these leviathans need the heaviest tackle outfits on the market and a very strong will.  All goliath grouper must be released immediately under current FWC regulations.