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© St. Petersburg Times, published July 4, 2002
Holidays can have extra heavy boat traffic. July 4 normally is one of the busiest. It's a good day to fish offshore, where the water is deeper and the fish don't get spooked as easily by boats. Most of the artificial reefs are holding mackerel, snapper, barracuda and a few kings. Pick a reef that's holding bait schools. Catch the bait with a gold-hooked bait rig and place it right on your rod. Fish a few on the bottom, cork a couple and leave some on a flat line. This will cover the water column from top to bottom. Bring a few chum blocks to hang over the side of the boat. This will help pull in the kings and mackerel.
Inshore action will be heavily affected by boats. Pick a spot where boats don't pass every few minutes. Grassflats inside Tampa Bay are a good place to start. Drift the flats using jigs on the drop-offs and a float with a jig over the grass. Have pinfish in the well in case a cobia swims past. Trout will be the most active gamefish, with ladyfish and jacks picking up the slack. Strawberry has been the hottest color for trout. Look for areas where you see the water moving.
You will encounter more than a few boats that won't be following the right-of-way rules. Use the rule captains are taught in school. The boat to your starboard (right) has the right of way, but you as a captain have the responsibility of avoiding a collision. Be the safe one on the water.
-- Doug Hemmer charters out of St. Petersburg. Call (727) 347-1389.