Outdoors

Daily fishing report

By JAY MASTRY
Published February 13, 2005

Breezy conditions the past few days made getting offshore difficult. The forecast for the start of this week, however, is encouraging.

Trolling the ship channel's edge inside Tampa Bay for grouper has been productive for those willing to put in the time. By paying close attention to your bottom recorder, you can locate spots to bottom fish. Downriggers work great but are not necessary. An assortment of diving plugs that descend 30 feet and deeper on their own are available. They come in many colors and sizes. Large schools of sheepshead are heading toward the gulf. Many will hug the sea walls along the west shoreline of the bay. Others often work their way out using the main ship channel. Bunches will hold up temporarily along the rock jetties in area passes, with John's Pass and Blind Pass among the most productive.

Those pursuing trout and redfish found the protected waters off Pinellas Point and Fort De Soto productive. The south ends of both these land masses offer protection from the northwest then north winds characteristic in each passing front.

Similar fronts have muddied water to 50 feet. Start there in your search for grouper and work out. On exceptionally calm days, run another 20 miles to 100 feet. Pick a spring or wreck for amberjack. This time of year, it'll be the most bang for your buck when big-game hunting.

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

[Last modified February 13, 2005, 01:08:17]