Outdoors

Daily fishing report

Really nice weather has even the most devoted employees using sick days at will. It is nearly impossible to spend these beautiful days indoors. Winter seems to have lost its grip on our area, and the fishing is backing it up.

Eager bridge anglers are having a blast with the Spanish mackerel around the Sunshine Skyway fishing piers. Spoons, shiny jigs, live bait on long shank hooks and just about anything that moves is fair game for the mackerel. A thin, single-strand wire leader is necessary to avoid cutoffs. These guys can inflict major damage to tackle and angler alike. Use caution when removing hooks from mackerel. They are slippery and can be very aggressive. Their taste is underrated, and they are delicious broiled or smoked. Mackerel should be here to stay for a few months, and will not disappoint impatient anglers.

Snook are starting to bite on the flats in Tampa Bay. Greenbacks and jerk-style baits are turning linesider heads. Schools are being spotted in the shallows, and the fish are starting to eat more aggressively. Loud pops can be heard in the distance from bait getting clobbered by hungry snook. The fishing will be really good soon, and all maintenance and equipment issues should be resolves as quickly as possible. Thankfully, spring is almost in full swing.

-- Dave Walker charters out of Tampa. Call (813) 831-0355.

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