With gulf temperatures quickly approaching the magic mark of 72, it won't be long before large schools of kingfish pass local beaches on the migration north to the summer feeding grounds off the Panhandle.
Anglers often argue which is better for kingfishing, spring or fall.
November produces its share of big fish, but it also marks the start of a season of cold fronts when it seems the only sure way to guarantee the wind, rain and waves is to schedule a king mackerel tournament.
Late March and early April seem to have more consistent weather.
All it takes is a few days of sun to heat things up and get the big kings moving.
While the big schools may be a few weeks away, there are a few "scouts" lurking in waters along the shore.
"We were fishing about 15 miles off St. Pete Beach last week when we hooked and landed a 40-pounder," said Pedro Borrego, captain of the charter boat Offshore Hustler. "It looks like the kings are already heading our way."
Borrego said he and angler Anthony Corcella were anchored over some hard bottom and put out a lot of chum, which attracted a large school of bait. The king, which measured 51.5 inches, hit a live cigar minnow hooked on the bottom treble of a double-hook stinger rig.
"We didn't expect to see a fish that big so early," said Borrego, who will display the fish at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Bill Jackson Shop for Adventure, 9501 U.S. 19 N, Pinellas Park, at a free kingfishing seminar he is hosting. Call (727) 576-4169 for information.
Anglers have a couple of weeks to tie stinger rigs and prepare their boats before the local tournaments begin in April. First prize in the first tournament, the Boater's World Tournament of Champions, will be a 21-foot Contender center-console boat, Yamaha motor, Loadmaster Trailer and $10,000.
Here is a run down of the upcoming tournaments:
Southern Kingfish Association: Division 6 Florida West Coast - Boater's World Tournament of Champions, April 2-4, Clearwater, captains meeting April 2 at Harborview Center, call (904) 819-0360. Billy's Stonecrab Kingfish Shootout: April 10, weigh-in 3-4 p.m., captains meeting April 8, weigh-in and captains meeting at Billy's Stonecrab Restaurant at Tierra Verde, call Billy Moore at (727) 542-3900. Treasure Island Charities Suncoast Kingfish Classics: First tournament April 17, captains meeting 7-9 p.m. April 16 at Gators on the Pass, entry fee $250 (early), $300 (late); Second tournament April 30-May 2, captains meeting 7-9 p.m. April 30 at Gators on the Pass, entry fee $250 (early), $300 (late). Call Doyce Mathis (727) 363-0071 or go to www.treasureislandcharities.com for both tournaments.
Old Salt Fishing Club 11th annual Spring King of the Beach: May 8 location TBA, captains meeting May 6, entry fee $185 per boat, call Amy Verdensky (727) 497-1060 or go to www.oldsaltfishingclub.com Billy's Stonecrab "Big" Spanish Mack Attack: May 29, weigh-in 3-4 p.m., captains meeting May 28 at Billy's Stonecrab, Entry fee $100 per boat, call (727) 542-3900.
The Southern Kingfish Association holds its national championship Nov. 18-21 in Biloxi, Miss. The top 20 teams in the open class from each division and the top 15 in the 23-foot-and-under class from each division qualify.
- Staff writer Rodney Page and correspondent Rick Frazier contributed to this report.
