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Daily fishing report

With May's warmer temperatures come dolphin, not Flipper, but dolphin fish (mahi mahi). If you plan to run offshore over the next few months make sure you're prepared should you run into a school of these colorful fish.

Before you head out take at least two (four would be better) 15- to 20-pound spinning outfits and tie a 5-foot length of 40-pound monoleader to the main line using a double surgeons knot. Then tie a 3/0 to 4/0 long shank hook on the leader. Cut some frozen sardines into 1-inch chunks and put them in a small container in the bait cooler. Watch for birds working the water surface as this will lead you to a school of dolphin.

When you find dolphin throw out a handful of sardine chunks to get the them feeding. Once you have them biting make sure to leave a lively one hooked in the water to hold the school close to the boat. If the bite slows on cut bait try taking a tail section and hook as near to the tail as you can. See which way the school is moving and cast the bait in front of the school and skip across the water as you retrieve it. When the dolphin start hitting, slow it down and let them take it. If they won't hit at the tail section try casting some quarter- to half-ounce jigs and use a fast retrieve popping the rod tip all the way back to the boat or until one hits. As a last resort try live bait.

-- Randy Rochelle runs Islander Charters in St. Petersburg and can be reached at (727) 528-1213 or by e-mail at Islandercharters@ij.net.

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