Outdoors

Daily fishing report

By MIKE WHITMAN
Published May 15, 2005

Summer patterns are settling in. The forecast is for 2 feet or less seas. With the calm, warm days, the water along the beach has become very clear, forcing the bait out to the nearshore reefs and buoys along the ships channel. Water temperature is rising rapidly, forcing the remaining kingfish north.

Grouper fishing has been slow. Gags are still chewing at depths of 100 feet and beyond but shallower has been a challenge. They are feeding best on live Spanish sardines and pinfish.

The red snapper bite is very good over Swiss cheese bottom in depths of 135-145 feet. They can also be found on breaks, ledges and wrecks. When grouper fishing, take the bottom machine and use the bottom-lock feature to blow up just the bottom 10 feet. When snapper fishing, look at bottom plus 40 feet. The snapper will hang up off the bottom. Use cut pieces of frozen sardines and small live white baits. Stop the bait when letting it out at the depth the fish are showing on the machine.

The blackfin tuna are concentrating behind the numerous shrimp boats beyond 100 feet.

Mike Whitman charters the Mega-Bite out of Gulfport. Call 727 384-5729, view the Web site at www.megabitecharters.com or e-mail capt@megabitecharters.com

[Last modified May 15, 2005, 01:21:24]