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Bluewater fishing on our coast normally starts 100 miles offshore, but this spring we have been catching wahoo, sailfish and black fin tuna fewer than 30 miles offshore. Last weekend while live baiting for kingfish a 72-pound-plus wahoo "smoked" a bait. It was finally landed after a one-hour fight on 15-pound class line. Wahoo action is not unheard of in 100 feet of water, but it is unusual to find it so close.
With the return in abundance of threadfins, Spanish sardines, and huge blue runners, bluewater species continue to get closer to the coast during the spring. Water temperatures and bait determine fish location. This spring is no exception. Live baits like schools of Spanish sardines, cigar minnows and threadfins can be found up and down our coast now. The huge bait schools naturally attract fish and are the area to target when looking for kingfish, Spanish mackerel, tuna and sailfish.
Tuna action continues to be hot off shrimp boats in 100 feet of water west of the Blackthorn. Live bait, free-lined off the transom of the shrimpers have been producing awesome catches of blackfins as well as black-tip sharks up to 100 pounds.
Kingfish action on the South County Reef, the Rube Allyn and Indian Shores Reef has been solid. The South County Reef is holding a large number of spinner sharks aggressively feeding on blue runners. Steel leader haywired to a 6/0 hook keeps the sharks from cutting the line.
Amberjack fishing is excellent in 100 feet and deeper over springs and shipwrecks. Live blue runners and large pinfish work extremely well. Try chumming with live baits and get the amberjacks up to the surface. Then cast a live bait offering toward the jacks. The competition among the jacks to feed on the surface is exciting and produces a quality experience. use 40- to 50-pound class tackle and fighting belts are essential when fighting 80-pound jacks.
Grouper and snapper fishing are also excellent. Working in 85-105 feet of water over ledges and cheese rock bottoms has produced our best results for grouper and snapper. Live baits seem to produce the biggest grouper and the snapper have been chewing the bottom out of our boat using live Spanish sardines.
Move offshore as the gulf warms and try to stay in water with a temperature in the upper 70s where you can count on good pelagic-species fishing.
- Larry "Huffy" Hoffman charters out of John's Pass, Treasure Island. Call (727) 709-9396.