Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

Daily fishing report

On recent trips in search of grouper and other reef fish, stops in 60, 70 and 80 feet of water were fruitless. Fishing returned to normal with red and gag grouper in 90 feet.

Gags were caught in hard-bottom areas usually considered the domain of red grouper. Normally when targeting grouper at this time of year we look for hard bottom in 90 feet or deeper.

Once hard bottom is found, anchoring on the edge of the limestone, where it transitions to the sand, will produce keeper red grouper. Fishing on the interior areas of a patch of hard bottom will produce a lot of action with smaller grouper but with fewer keepers.

The gags caught with the reds have been found on the hard bottom that has bait spikes showing on the bottom machine. The theory is gags come off the adjacent ledges, following schools of bait and feeding on stragglers.

Pinfish, squid and frozen Spanish sardines are producing, but the best bet is bait caught on site. Use 3- or 4-ounce sinkers on a sabiki rig for faster travel and fewer tangles.

-- Capt. Dave Zalewski charters the Lucky Too out of Madeira Beach and can be reached at (727) 397-8815 or by e-mail at Luckytoo2@aol.com.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

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