Outdoors

Daily fishing report

By LARRY HOFFMAN
Published April 27, 2005

Cold front after cold front has made kingfishing spotty. Most caught this spring have been lighter than 20 pounds. Last weekend's tournament had only five fish heavier than 30. That's about 10 fewer than normal.

Rough water and limited visibility have made catching smoker kings tough. The last big SKA tournament of the season is scheduled for this weekend at Gators on the Pass on Treasure Island, and the conditions seem like they will be good for a change.

Look for kingfish along the beaches, Egmont Channel, South County Reef, Rube Allyn and Clearwater hard bottom. Livebaiting still is the best method to catch that smoker kingfish, and the larger the bait, the better the chance for a big kingfish.

Tuna fishing has picked up. If you can get offshore, the shrimp boats are west of Egmont Key in 90-110 feet. There are some blackfin tuna being taken off the shrimpers' transoms. Get up early, though, and fish the shrimper because they are shoveling the bycatch, which attracts the tuna, over the side.

Live Spanish sardines free-lined on 30-pound class tackle works well. With the warmer weather, take some ice and submerge your catch in it immediately to preserve the tuna's freshness.

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 April 27, 2005, 00:48:18]