Action offshore continues to provide all the grouper, mangrove snapper and amberjacks we want to catch. The key this time of year is to look for "bait shows" on your bottom machine. Fishing over hard-bottom areas in 120 feet last week produced big red grouper - some up to 18 pounds - and a few gags over 15 pounds. Live bait produced our biggest fish. Mangrove snapper fed on live pilchards at every stop. We preferred a 30-pound class tackle with green glow beads in front of a 2/0 hook for snappers.
The amberjacks wanted only large baits like blue runners and half-pound or bigger pinfish. We normally use 50-pound class tackle for jacks but dropped to 30 to get them to feed. It takes longer to land a big amberjack on light tackle but can be done with a little patience.
Bluewater fishing 65 miles offshore was a little disappointing. We did catch a few 10-pound dolphin, a 40-pound kingfish and one small tuna and wahoo. We were fishing just east of the Elbow and did not find any good weed lines. September still is a great month to get offshore to bluewater fish. Start 70 miles out and work your way to the Steps. Numerous marlin were released last week, and some yellow-fin tuna up to 125 pounds were caught just west of the Steps.
- Larry "Huffy" Hoffman charters out of John's Pass, Treasure Island. Call (727) 709-9396.
