The past week we have enjoyed great weather, relatively flat seas and good fishing. On Monday a spring southwest of Pass-a-Grille was loaded with big amberjack. While drift fishing with eight-foot rods loaded with 60-pound test and 6-ounce sinkers, we caught and released 14 fish in less than two hours. The smallest was about 40 pounds; the largest pushed 70.
In addition to amberjack our party landed assorted snapper including mangrove, vermilion and a few American reds we released. They were caught drifting in a series of limestone depressions in 120 feet of water. The snapper were offered small live pinfish but seemed to prefer the tail section from a cut sardine.
Shipping channel markers are holding good bait concentrations including pinfish and sardines. Red Tide continues to be a problem; we lost a lot of bait until we tossed a dozen copper pennies into the well. I don't know if that helped, but we lost no more bait.
The grouper bite the past week has been in 120- to 130-foot depths. The red grouper are holding on Swiss cheese bottom, feeding on stacks of bait. Eight- to 10-ounce white jigs with green or pink tails sweetened with a full squid were most productive. The key has been moving around and hitting as many spots as possible in a certain water depth once you find fish.
- Mike Whitman charters the Mega Bite out of Gulfport. Call 727 384-5729 or e-mail capt@megabitecharters.com
