One of the most frequently asked questions I get is when is the best time to fish in our area? The answer is any time the weather permits. But all of April, the first two weeks of May, last two weeks of October and all of November are best.
In the spring and fall, water temperatures reach the magical 72 degrees, at which large schools of baitfish such as glass minnows, scaled sardines, cigar minnows and threadfins are near shore and offshore. Pelagic predators such as Spanish mackerel, kingfish, bonita, blackfin tuna and the occasional sailfish feed on them during migrations.
Schools of baitfish were seen close to passes and especially on artificial reefs, wrecks and markers along the Egmont shipping channel.
Kingfish and mackerel were caught by trolling spoons and plugs behind No. 1 and No. 2 planers. Live baiters did well slow trolling or anchoring and chumming with a block of frozen chum augmented by small slivers of cut baitfish.
Bottom fishing for gag, red grouper and mangrove snapper was great at 80-90 feet. Use two flat lines. The live bait remains near the surface, and the frozen sardine sinks, allowing more of the water column to be covered.
- Dave Zalewski charters the Lucky Too out of Madeira Beach and can be reached at 727 397-8815 or by e-mail at Luckytoo2@aol.com
