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© St. Petersburg Times, published August 16, 2002
Here, there and most everywhere
Mixing it up will get maximum results during late summer. Tarpon still are gobbling mouthfuls of tiny glass minnows close to the beaches. Look for birds working only a stone's throw from the surf; that's where you'll find action.
The silverkings are in a feeding frenzy. All it takes is a free-lined pilchard or threadfin tossed in their path. A few sharks, small mackerel and cobia add extra fun.
This time each year, cobia start their migration from the northern gulf toward us. Not only have clients landed numerous fish along the beaches, but offshore wrecks have produced huge fish. Our biggest of the week weighed 51 pounds.
Kingfish will be around for the duration of the summer. Twenty-pounders have been landed on a regular basis near artificial reefs in 40 to 60 feet of water. Two fish more than 36 pounds were the largest of the week. A combination of Spanish mackerel, bonito, barracuda and smokers can amount to an outstanding day of late-summer slow-trolling.
Live threadfin herring employed deep (with the help of downriggers) works best. If live bait is not available, captains have been catching their fair share with the combo of small spoons and skirted ballyhoo.
Inshore grouper action remains slow. Undersized fish are the only bottom dwellers camping out at depths of 50 feet and shallower. Action picks up if you travel deeper. Sixty feet of water has numerous 18- to 20-inchers with an occasional keeper thrown in. If weather allows, the journey to 80-plus feet gets even better. Keeper-sized red grouper have infiltrated the limestone bottomareas, allowing anglers to bring home a few more fish. Most reds have been averaging 7 to 10 pounds with an occasional fire truck (20-pounder) mixed in.
Mangrove snapper are fattening up for their late-summer spawn. All depths are holding descent numbers; the deeper the water, the bigger the fish. Last week, clients reeled dozens of mangos in the 4- to 8-pound range near structures 40 miles from shore. Boaters not wanting to travel so far can target the artificial reefs 3 to 5 miles from shore.
Anglers have been free-lining whitebaits (scaled sardines) for Spanish mackerel, while also bottom-fishing for mangos. Anchoring directly over concrete structures with small intervals of chumming will draw fish from all around. Keep an eye out for those pesky goliath groupers. They will chase your prized mango all the way to the surface in an attempt to steal a free lunch.
There's not much you can do once the mighty goliath camps out under the boat. The only options are to leave the area and establish your offering elsewhere, or break out the 9/0 reel with heavy line and go to battle. Already, 20 of these monsters have been brought boat-side the past two weeks, some reaching 600 pounds. A strong back is a must!
-- Dave Mistretta captains the Jaws Too out of Indian Rocks Beach. Call (727) 595-3276, or e-mail sales@jawstoo.com.