Binoculars have many uses aboard a fishing boat. One of the most important is to help determine offshore sea conditions in the gulf. If winds are strong from the east, the water will be calm near shore in the lee but uncomfortable or unsafe farther out.

Recently, Don Zintel's family and I left the dock disappointed we would not be going offshore because of the humps on the horizon evident through the binoculars. At noon, conditions changed. The plan was to seek king and Spanish mackerel at the artificial reefs. The water was so dirty at Madeira Beach that we did not put lines out. Next stop was the new South County reef. Eleven boats were there, most of them anchored and live-baiting for kingfish. No place for a hardware troller. Off to the Ten Fathom Wreck, which is holding a large concentration of bait. The action began almost as soon as the lines hit the water with large mackerel and schoolie kings hitting broken-backed gold lures and blue or gold spoons trolled 25 feet behind No. 2 or 3 planers.

Stopping after the trolling action slowed, it took a short while to sabiki up live bait to add to the squid and frozen sardines we had on board. Bottom fishing was spotty in 70 feet, but a return to the 50-foot range yielded three nice gags and an assortment of grunts and triggerfish.

-- 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.

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