Outdoors

Daily fishing report

By JAY MASTRY
Published December 30, 2004

This time of year sheepshead fishing is as close to a sure bet as you can get.

Extreme low tide in the mornings this week exposed green mussels on bridge pilings and sea walls that are otherwise difficult to detect.

A long-handled scraper and crab net will get a bucket of bait in no time. A pair of gloves and a shucking knife is recommended for completing the job.

Tuesday, with the wind blowing too hard to comfortably get offshore, we sought the protection of a bridge leading to the gulf and caught 58 of the bucktoothed bait stealers. Tackle may vary depending on the structure. Weight will be determined by tidal flow, lighter being better to detect the often subtle bite. A 12- to 16-pound test is all you need, but I'll beef it up with 18 inches of 30-pound test leader when working barnacle-crusted bridge pilings. The style of hook debate will go on. Many prefer a circle hook, others like the short shank, for now I'm sticking with the No. 1 J hook. The bit longer shaft makes removal less of a chore.

With better weather in our forecast through the weekend, additional options will be likely. Silver trout will gang up right off the beach at Redington and Indian Rocks. Tandem rigged jigs work best as you drift over these hard bottom areas. Pompano may provide action for those wanting to stay inshore. As we distance ourselves from last Sunday's full moon, screaming tides will slow some, allowing the edge of the ship channel in the bay to become more fishable. Mangrove snapper, black sea bass, and grouper will chew when able to keep baits on the bottom.

Jay Mastry charters Jaybird out of St. Petersburg. Call (727) 321-2142.

[Last modified December 30, 2004, 00:39:11]