Live bait chumming is one of the most effective ways of getting fish to feed. It also can help keep fish in the same area. It sometimes changes the way fish feed. When this happens, change the presentation of the bait hooked to your rod. If you're chumming redfish, they probably will start hitting corked bait without hesitation. As the waters behind your boat fill with free-swimming baits, the reds will start striking only unhooked baits. Then switch to a free-lined bait, cast where the reds have been striking the surface and leave the bail open. Pull line off the reel by hand so the baits are free to swim. The faster baits draw the most strikes. This can make the difference between catching 4-5 reds or 20-30. This technique works equally well when live chumming for kingfish, mackerel and amberjack.

Threadfin herring still are hanging in 20 feet of water from John's Pass to St. Pete Beach. Look for good action over the artificial reefs that are closest to shore. Reports of big mackerel, bonito, cobia and a few line-stripping runs that were unidentified have come off the T.I. reef.

Tarpon are along the beach from Long Boat Key to Honeymoon Island. Threadfins and blue crabs are drawing the most strikes if you can find a school that has not felt the pressure of other anglers. If you see boats anchored with rods out, give a wide berth. Driving too close will shut down the bite for everyone.

-- Doug Hemmer charters out of St. Petersburg. Call (727) 347-1389.

Back to Sports

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright

From the Times sports desk

Darrell Fry

For Mickelson, here's a major opportunity

Golf

World's best in for a test at Bethpage

U.S. Open Keys to Victory

Cink not dwelling on what might have been

NHL

Hull? Robitaille? No, Hasek key addition

Fischer denies intent to injure

NBA

Lakers three-peat

World Cup

FIFA orders end to replays

Tie eliminates two-time champ

Basketball

Hamm returns with winning goal in WUSA game

Bowling

Roth has impact on senior tour

Local

Legend returns to the sideline

Cross Bayou cruises to West Division title

Clearwater pitcher gets advice from roommate

Outdoors

Daily fishing report

Rays

Night after rout, Rays bats return to silence

Rupe extends run of complete games

Bucs

Bucs look for payoff at last minicamp

From the wire

From the state sports wire Jacksonville's Spicer placed on IR after leg surgery
FIU-Western Kentucky game postponed because of Jeanne
Brown anxious to face old team for first time
Dolphins' desperate defense readies for Roethlisberger
Former Sarasota lineman sheds tough-guy image with Michigan
Rothstein rejoins Heat as assistant
No. 16 Florida has history on its side against Kentucky

FSU and Clemson QBs both off to slow starts