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DAVE ZALEWSKIHead to gulf for mackerel
Spanish mackerel have invaded the artificial reefs, near-shore wrecks and mouths of passes entering the Gulf of Mexico. They are feeding on cigar minnows and Spanish sardines 1-6 inches long.
When they are feeding on glass minnows and other small baits, 00 size spoons and small saltwater streamer flies trolled on the surface or just below it (using a small cigar sinker) are keys to nonstop action. The use of a No. 1 planer sometimes is needed when the fish are feeding below the surface. When the macks are feeding on larger baits, a No. 1 spoon or larger will produce the most strikes.
Watch the behavior of diving birds that are feeding on the baitfish forced to the surface by the mackerel to decide what size lure to use. If the birds are skimming the surface and simply flopping into the bait, the bait will be small. If the birds are diving from greater heights, the bait will be larger.
Red grouper fishing in the 90-plus-foot hard bottom depths continues to be strong during calm weather. It takes a lot of bait and several stops to put some keepers in the box because of the numbers of undersized fish who are quicker and more willing to bite. Ledges in these same depths are lacking large numbers of gags but are harboring mangrove snapper. The use of 20-pound-class conventional or spinning gear with small live baits such as pinfish or pilchards on 2/0 short shanked live bait hooks is the key to fooling these bait stealers.
Mackerel action from the gulf piers and the Sunshine Skyway piers continues to improve daily with the best time at sunrise. Grouper activity in Tampa Bay has slowed to its usual August crawl. Mangrove snapper action along the entire ship's channel has replaced the grouper activity with fish in the 18- to 20-inch range being caught by anglers employing small live baits and fishing on the tide changes.
Weather is the big factor at present. Close attention should be paid to developing weather patterns before leaving port.
- 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