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Daily fishing report

Smooth seas this weekend allowed us the option of staying in close or heading offshore. We chose both.

Saturday we worked the rocky edge of the ships' channel inside the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Whitebait would have been my first choice to land mangrove snapper but we wouldn't have gotten the 40 sheepshead we tricked into eating pieces of shrimp. Use just enough weight to stay down, 20-pound test and a No. 1 hook. Stay up on the edge in these areas. Patchy morning fog on calm mornings can make navigation a hazard, and the channel is no place to be when freighters come through.

Sunday, we wrecked amberjack (or vice versa) 30 miles offshore of Longboat Key in 107 feet. Lengthening leaders to distance our baits from the 6-ounce sinkers seemed to make a difference. Though we got busted off a few times, we got more bites on 60-pound test leader than heavier stuff in clear water. Light wind allowed us to slow drift rather than anchor and chum. Because AJs tend to roam around a wreck, reef, or spring, you might need to find them on your recorder.

Kingfish reports have been few but the recent Southern Kingfish Association tournament in Naples had impressive results. A 42.4-pounder won; it took a 30.3-pounder to make the top 10. Get your gear in order, change your baitwell pumps if you must and start twisting wire, because the frontrunners will be here soon.

-- Jay Mastry charters Jaybird out of St. Petersburg. Call (727) 321-2142.

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