The fall kingfish season arrived this week with numerous reports of kingfish up to 30 pounds being caught from Clearwater hard bottom to Egmont channel. Sunday just off Blind Pass, bait schools of threadfins and blue runners were as abundant as I have seen. Hundreds of pelicans were diving on these large bait schools. The water was 78 degrees, just right for early season kingfishing. Slow-trolled live baits will produce bigger kingfish, especially along beaches. Troll around the bait schools, trying not to bust up the bait. Gold hook rigs will produce all the live bait you need.
Capt. Graig Lahr on Team Gator has been producing good catches of snapper and grouper in 80 feet of water. Sunday, bottom fishing in 85 feet, they produced six nice grouper and a limit of snappers by noon and were back at the dock by 1 p.m. Capt. Garner Koons, diving in 35 feet east of the Rube Allyn, produced 10 gags in one stop, two close to 15 pounds. He reported the gags were thick, and they could have shot 20.
Expect fishing conditions to improve as we get closer to November, the water continues to cool and the fish start migrating toward shore.
- Larry "Huffy" Hoffman charters out of John's Pass, Treasure Island. Call (727) 709-9396.
