Outdoors

Daily fishing report

By LARRY HOFFMAN
Published February 29, 2004

---

Right when I thought we were well into spring, we got hit with back-to-back cold fronts. Just before the most recent cold front the water temperature southwest of John's Pass hit the magic 68 degrees, meaning the spring kingfish run is just around the corner.

We have had excellent success with blackfin tuna off the transoms of shrimpers. We like to free-line live Spanish sardines using 4/0 hooks tied directly to 40-pound line. We have jigged up live Spanish sardines off the anchored ships in the fairway anchorage near Egmont Channel.

Smooth drags are a must to fight and tire out the tunas. When we approach a shrimp boat we are quiet and make as little commotion as possible. We cut up half a dozen sardines into 1-inch pieces and throw them off the transom of the shrimper. This chunking attracts the blackfins to the chum and keeps the tuna in the area.

When the tuna get started you can catch as many as you want. I recommend you keep two per person and make sure you have plenty of ice. Submerge the tuna in the ice immediately. If you like sushi, try bleeding the fish by cutting off their tails. Show some courtesy to the shrimpers and keep the noise down, as they are normally sleeping during the day.

- Larry "Huffy" Hoffman charters out of John's Pass, Treasure Island. Call 727 709-9396 or e-mail him at huffyl@tampabay.rr.com

[Last modified February 29, 2004, 01:15:11]

Arena League

Soul satiates Bon Jovi's need

Baseball

New 1B Lee gets three years to help Cubs get over the hump

Phillies letting Bell set own pace

Black History Month

Great obligations

College basketball

Alabama continues to rebound

Pirates pull away from USF

Duke in the way of dream

Spartans' streak at 5

Stanford: 25 in row

UAB tops Golden Eagles

Gators climbing

S.C. St. too much for B-CC

Editorial

Rant: Tired of innuendo? Prove you're clean and we'll move on

Golf

Match Play's final pits Woods vs. Love

Horse racing

Florida-bred victorious in the Baldwin

In brief

Devers double a first

Motorsports

First IRL pole for Rice, Rahal

NBA

Blazerless playoff? Not so fast

McGrady hurts ankle as Magic snaps 2-game skid

NFL

Capologists must wear many caps

Adjustments in cap can change the bill

NHL

Slapshots

Belfour returns from injury to help end Maple Leafs' losing streak

Outdoors

Daily fishing report

Two boat-racing circuits coming

Preps

Brandon better than ever

Countryside trio grabs elusive prize

Leopard, Ram capture crowns

Plant going to state after a great escape

Berkeley Prep claims state title

Encore for Enriquez: tops in state again

For East Lake, it's better late than ever

It's clear sailing for Clearwater

Lecanto wins as a team

Sports in print

Four Times writers rated among the nation's best

Your turn

Letters to the Editor: Pro golf amateurs

Rays

To Gaudin, there is no 'can't'

Tokyo trip may rush Rays' hand

Zambrano gets opening start

Bucs

Concerns go beyond receivers

Keyshawn weekends in Dallas

Lightning

Lightning's late goal puts away energetic Caps

Modin gets back to 20-goal plateau