Outdoors

Daily fishing report

By LARRY HOFFMAN
Published February 11, 2005

Count on cold fronts approaching from the north this time of year, with the silver lining being the decrease in fishing pressure. Many ledges that normally hold smaller fish will fill with big grouper.

This weekend looks doubtful for offshore fishing because a front has moved through, but early next week should provide a few good days.

We normally target any location for grouper only twice a year to keep the pressure off the fish. Depending on time of year, the deeper you fish the less pressure on the fish. Guide Steve Papin fished in 120 feet west-northwest of John's Pass this week, and the results were outstanding. He caught limits of big red grouper, gags and mangrove snapper.

Frozen sardines and live pinfish continue to be the bait of choice on this coast. Tackle size can vary, however, and many grouper diggers use heavy line - up to 80 pounds - to reduce cutoffs on coral bottom. We use gear in the 50-pound class so we can catch snappers and grouper without changing equipment.

When the fish are feeding aggressively the 50-pound tackle is great. When the fish get a little finicky, try dropping to 30-pound gear and 30-pound fluorocarbon leaders. The downside of light tackle is you will lose a lot more fish, but the upside is you will have a lot more action.

Amberjack fishing is a mainstay this time of year. Shipwrecks and springs are holding large numbers of jacks up to 50 pounds. Large, live blue runners, pinfish and spadefish are excellent baits. Blue runners are our favorite, if we can get them. Hook the baits through the back and trim the tail fins to hamper the bait's ability to swim. Allow the jacks to swallow the bait, and don't set the hook until you feel heavy pressure on the rod. A rookie mistake is setting the hook too soon and shutting down the bite. Good drag settings and fighting belts help keep your back from hurting the next day.

According to guide Craig Lahr, the flats fishing in and around Caladesi Island is red hot. The water is clear, and Lahr and his customers have been sightcasting for redfish and switching to hard-body topwater lures to land nice speckled trout.

Larry "Huffy" Hoffman charters out of John's Pass, Treasure Island. Call 727 709-9396 or e-mail him at huffyl@tampabay.rr.com

[Last modified February 11, 2005, 00:52:18]