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Calm seas and a lack of storm activity on the radar Saturday morning as we left John's Pass made the decision to venture offshore 270 degrees to the 100-foot depths in search of red grouper on the swiss cheese bottom an easy one.
A bait stop at the South County artificial reef yielded much more than the expected spanish sardines and threadfins. After losing a half-dozen sabiki rigs to spanish mackerel that were quick to hit the easy pickings, we switched to the standard No.1 planer, No.1 gold spoon with 30-pound leader because of the clear water. We immediately started catching the spotted speedsters, both in whole condition and many with their back half missing because of the numerous barracuda present.
The term "matching the hatch" is often used by fly-fishermen seeking trout in northern streams and is applicable to wherever one is fishing. Presenting as naturally as possible whatever is being pursued is the surest way to ensure a bite. Having a rod ready with a stinger rig consisting of a 2/0 bait hook followed by two No.6 trebles constructed to hang back of the length of the bait is a must. Hook the mackerel through the nostrils and return it to the water as soon as possible. Trolling as slowly as possible over and around the structure usually results in a hookup.
After putting a dozen whole mackerel in the box and hooking a barracuda that gave us four spectacular jumps, we continued northwest another 14 miles and anchored on a small outcropping of limestone. Because of the clarity of the water, 30 inches of 50-pound leader was more effective than the shorter lengths of heavier material. R.B. Barrett, 14, put dad Rich and the other four adults on board in their place with his two-fish, red grouper limit, a 12- and 14-pounder caught using a spanish sardine placed inside a whole squid.
-- 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