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© St. Petersburg Times, published January 17, 2002
Grouper, amberjack and mangrove snapper have been keeping our fishing days active. Last week we got offshore twice between cold fronts. This weekend, good fishing conditions should prevail for our coast. As we move into four-tide days, the bottom fishing will improve. The weather also will help offshore fishing.
We worked a couple of shrimp boats 30 miles southwest of John's Pass this week looking for late-season tuna with no results. Bottom fishing was average, with a half-dozen keeper gags boated with a half-dozen mangroves.
This time of year, if you are looking for a big fish target amberjacks. The Egmont Channel is holding good numbers of blue runners and good-sized pinfish for live bait. Working a shipwreck in 130 feet, we produced amberjacks in the mid 20s. The amberjacks were not aggressively feeding. We were, however, able attract a half-dozen to our bait.
Water temperature 35 to 40 miles southwest of John's Pass is holding around 70 degrees, making the fish a little more fishing-friendly. Target ledges and hard-bottom areas in 50 to 70 feet this weekend.
-- Larry "Huffy" Hoffman charters out of John's Pass, Treasure Island. Call (727) 709-9396.