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It likely will be crawling with kingfish in a week or so, but for now bottom fishing the South Jack area might be a better bet.
An area of natural hard bottom and numerous ledges about 4 miles south of the Egmont Ships Channel is holding a variety of bottom dwellers.
Saturday, working the outer limits of the area in 64 feet, we caught grouper, the largest a 12-pounder. Triggerfish, scamp, porgies and the ever-present Key West grunts kept us busy on the lighter tackle, using squid and sardines for bait.
Sunday, we worked what is commonly referred to as the "Short Jack." Inshore of the well publicized South Jack Wreck, in 43 feet, we wore out mangrove snapper, grouper and a dozen large sheepshead that have moved to the gulf to spawn.
If unfamiliar with the area, pick up the Clearwater to Venice fish/dive chart at your local tackle shop. Many Global Positioning System waypoints are listed, and once in the area, paying attention to your bottom recorder will aid in finding productive areas of your own.
Huge dark spots of balled-up glass minnows could be seen on the surface. High diving pelicans pounding bait fish just south of markers 7 and 8 in the ships channel are clear indicators that spring is arriving and so too will the kingfish that will come ashore to prey on them.
- Jay Mastry charters out of St. Petersburg. He can be reached at (727) 321-2142.