Blustery winds hampered offshore action the past few days. A small window of opportunity will open Friday and Saturday ahead of another weather system. Boaters need to be cautious during these times.

Gag grouper should start migrating closer to shore, allowing anglers to capitalize on good bottom fishing within 15 miles. Frozen sardines, squid and cut bait will be your best bet as temperatures drop.

Triggerfish are showing up on ledges and rock piles in our area. These tasty reef fish can't resist a small piece of squid or sardine presented on a rig of two small hooks. A trigger's mouth is tiny compared to its body, making it difficult to catch one on a larger hook. I prefer a 1/0 to 2/0 beak hook. Triggerfish are great for the table, but cleaning them can be a chore. Their skin is thick and rough like sandpaper, so use a sharp knife.

Kingfishing is best wherever clean water can be found. The artificial reefs at the 10-mile mark are a great place to start since they hold plenty of baitfish. Small gold hooks jiggled at the bottom will produce a variety. Spanish sardines, pilchards, cigar minnows and blue runners are the most common. Other great spots for kings are the same as where you'd find grouper.

-- Dave Mistretta captains the Jaws Too out of Indian Rocks Beach. Call (727) 595-3276, or e-mail sales@jawstoo.com .

Back to Sports

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

From the Times sports desk

John Romano

JoePa legacy is taking a hit

Motorsports
NASCAR season's been silly from start

Martin's appeal to be heard Saturday

College football
Florida defense gaining repute

Winning Zook's objective

State practice reports

UF extra points

Miami (Ohio) suspends assistants for actions

NFL
Sharpe says injury more serious than reported

Golf
Augusta is right, poll says ... maybe

Baseball
Former Giants OF Alou returns as manager

Colleges
It's official: Redding's a Volunteer

NBA
Mavs remain perfect

NHL
Atlanta has rare win streak

Et cetera
In brief

Williams in second in career victories

Preps
Seminole's Lincicome wins 2A crown

Time Warner Bowl

Saddlebrook breezes to title

District swimming breakdown

Barons' glory could be brief

Cowboy adjusts to success

Wharton winds up fourth

Warhawk takes 2A title

Relaxed approach boosts Cougars

Outdoors

Daily fishing report

Bucs
Jackson at front of D's resurgence

Christy, Jurevicius expected to play

Lightning
Play, nothing else, determines ice time

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