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© St. Petersburg Times, published August 21, 2002
The full moon has brought great action. Shark fishing is best as the moon rises just after dark. A ripping incoming tide combined with a major lunar period has their appetites seemingly endless.
Steady chumming with freshly caught shad or lady fish will lure sharks from up to a mile away. And the gruntings of fresh pig fish produce feeding frenzies.
Use a sharp hook and 100-pound braided wire leader for their tough-skinned mouth and razor-sharp teeth. Black tips and hammerheads will be most common. A mile from the beach has been the most productive. Fish the edges of the natural reefs and sand.
Offshore bottom fish from dawn to noon. The few grouper out there will be most active during the morning incoming tide.
Snook have been smashing free-lined grunts around the passes, especially during the late afternoon tide. As the water flushes from the bay, shrimp, crabs and other small bait fish go out with the outgoing tide. The first and last 11/2 hours of the tide are best.
Spanish mackerel seem to be everywhere and hungry. The best bet is fishing while currents are moving. It doesn't matter which tide.
-- Dave Mistretta captains the Jaws Too out of Indian Rocks Beach. Call (727) 595-3276, or e-mail sales@jawstoo.com.