The offshore grouper bite has picked up, and small boaters can get in on the action. Increasing numbers of keeper grouper are appearing along the edges of the Tampa Bay ships channel. Mangrove snapper continue to be the headliners. We left them biting after three hours of non-stop action Saturday, and never got outside of Egmont Key. Due to the minimal yield of the barely legal ones, releasing those is a better option.
We caught six full grown tiggerfish that coexisted with the mangos on a ledge in 22 feet. Tough hide makes cleaning them a chore, but the edibility is worth the effort. Large mackerel finally are showing in better numbers. We got them as big as 4 pounds while anchored in 20 feet. Blocks work, but live chum will get the fish skyrocketing behind the boat.
Though it would be premature to bust out the stinger rigs, a kingfish was landed off Blind Pass. With the decrease in water temperature, it will be just a matter of time until it gets more to their liking. High tide in the mornings and easterly wind have made gathering bait more angler friendly. Calm along the Gulf Beaches, schools of whitebait and Spanish sardines can be seen raining on the surface along the swash channels.
- Jay Mastry charters Jaybird out of St.Petersburg. Call (727) 321-2142.
