The offshore bite for grouper again has been a deep proposition. Though the water has warmed considerably, the surface is many degrees warmer than the bottom. This has kept most grouper well past 60 feet, with the best catches coming in 90 feet or more.

Starting in 85 feet Monday, Steve Sowers of Ohio was rewarded with sore arms and a few tasty filets as he had them coming off the bottom like a well-oiled machine. Making only two moves, we located a few breaks that held numerous fish. Always leave a few fish at each spot as it takes time for an area to replenish itself if all the fish are removed. The old saying of taking one or two, then moving on will keep your personal fishery healthy and stable.

Using a monochrome and a color unit in tandem is my normal method of locating fish. The color machine provides greater detail, and the black-and-white model seems to show fish better. On this trip, neither machine showed many fish, yet baits were gobbled instantly when dropped. Sometimes, all you can do is scratch your head and keep pulling them up!

One of the best methods for accumulating an arsenal of "numbers" is to start with one that is productive. From there, scout out a 1-mile-square grid. You will often find other hot spots closer than you think. On following trips to that area, you will have more than one place to fish.

-- Capt. Chuck MacIntyre runs Vortex Charters out of Treasure Island and can be reached at (727) 709-9045 or by e-mail at captchuckmac@hotmail.com.

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