Outdoors

Daily fishing report

By DAVE ZALEWSKI
Published March 2, 2005

Just when the weather seemed to be settling down, back-to-back cold fronts with their high winds and seas kept us in port.

When we were able to get out, we targeted only grouper and snapper because kingfish, mackerel and barracuda were wishful thinking.

That thinking will become a reality in a few weeks.

The longer days give the gulf waters a chance to absorb more of the sun's rays, rapidly increasing the temperature to where the Spanish sardines, cigar minnows and threadfins are able to thrive. Once the bait is established, the predators show up for the easy pickings.

Bonita and cobia are the first to arrive because they are more tolerant of lower temperatures. Bonita will be seen crashing schools of bait near wrecks from 40-foot depths on out. Cobia will hold close to these wrecks and the markers in the Egmont Channel. Barracuda arrive in numbers and establish themselves on wrecks and artificial reefs once the water reaches 68 degrees, and they begin to feed in earnest when the water reaches 72-74 and the kingfish migration is peaking. This spell of bad weather will give us the last chance to dust off the trolling tackle, check drags and line rollers for smoothness and rod guides for cracks and roughness, and respool reels with new line. Kings are still being caught in numbers in the Keys, and some are being reported just off Naples.

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

[Last modified March 2, 2005, 00:47:18]