Outdoors

Daily fishing report

By DAVE MISTRETTA
Published July 19, 2005

Some good things happen after a strong hurricane. We ventured to the milky waters of 110 feet after this recent blow. Six days of calm weather were not enough to clear up the normally deep-blue gulf.

To my surprise, all the rods doubled over at once. We had been consistently hooking fish after the hurricane, but the action hadn't been this intense. American red snapper were the first to attack our frozen sardines. We then started hooking grouper averaging 14 pounds. Mahis began to cruise the surface at our transom. Large mangrove snapper began to bite with a fury.

I eventually pulled off the spot because of a full fish box. Reds averaging 5 pounds and numerous 6-pound mangrove snapper added to the mix.

The mangrove snapper had undeveloped roe, telling me we will have a fabulous bite during the full moon next week. The added pleasure of red snapper at these unusual shallower depths will make the full moon bite that much more exciting. This time of year their fat content is high thanks to the upcoming spawn, making their taste even more fabulous.

The Red Tide off Clearwater is not nearly as bad compared to the giant fish kills two weeks ago. The storm broke up its concentration, but did not destroy it. Small amounts of the bloom have been noticed about 8 miles from shore.

--Dave Mistretta captains the Jaws Too out of Indian Rocks Beach. Call 727 595-3276, e-mail jawstoo@msn.com or see www.jawstoo.com

[Last modified July 19, 2005, 01:09:13]