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Outdoors

Sardines are swarming calmer seas

By ED WALKER
Published July 16, 2005

Conditions have been slowly improving since the fringes of Hurricane Dennis hit the area with high winds, heavy rain and giant swells.

The seas have calmed down, but the water remains dirty offshore and stained brown with river runoff along many stretches of shoreline. Adding to the problem is evidence of red tide in the Tarpon Springs and New Port Richey area.

Large numbers of dead fish began appearing Tuesday. Most were grunts and small bottom dwellers that appeared to have been dead for some time, indicating that they may have died elsewhere and were blown in. The next day, however, there were dead mullet, specked trout, black drum and numerous snook floating in at Anclote Key and near the sand bar to its north. Some mullet were observed spinning through the water in the throes of death.

A half mile offshore, we discovered birds picking up small baitfish that were spinning and acting erratically on the surface. Areas to the south plagued by red tide have reported improvements since the storm. Hopefully, it hasn't simply shifted toward the North Suncoast area.

On the positive side, vast schools of small Spanish sardines have appeared all over the beach and gulf-side flats. The tiny minnows often swarm together in schools so dense that the water appears black. These balls of bait will attract big and small fish of all kinds. Typically, the Spanish mackerel, jacks and ladyfish are the first to attack them. As the baitfish move into shallower water to escape, speckled trout, snook, small sharks and even tarpon will join in to capitalize on the easy meals.

Larger species such as tarpon usually circle the school, herding them closer together, then - when the minnows are tightly packed - the big fish dive through and gulp them by the mouthful.

So far, only the baitfish have moved in, but there's an improvement in water quality to kick off a great inshore bite.

Further up the coast toward Homosassa, the water has cleared close to shore and guides have been reporting great redfish and trout trips. The shoreline and small islands to the south of the Homosassa River have been clean and holding good numbers of fish. Artificial baits have been the top producers.

Grouper action has been slow for most anglers inside 15 miles. There have been some gags on the rock piles at 15-20 feet, but most have been well below the minimum size limit. On some of the bigger rocks and artificial reefs, there are plenty of mangrove snapper, but they have been running on the small side.

A chum block set up behind the boat will help draw the bottom fish and could catch the attention of a passing cobia or Spanish mackerel. Goliath grouper may appear to feed in your chum line or dine on the fish being reeled in.

In the past few years, more anglers have begun targeting these huge fish for the extreme battle they dish out.

Most can't be stopped and cut the line by diving back into the structure. A few are brought to the surface and provide anglers with a hard-earned opportunity to get a photo with a giant. However, the goliaths are protected from harvest, so all must be released.

Ed Walker charters out of Tarpon Springs. Call 727 944-3474 or e-mail info@lighttacklecharters.com

[Last modified July 16, 2005, 00:24:14]