Outdoors

Daily fishing report

By DAVE ZALEWSKI
Published August 3, 2005

Because of continued Red Tide, the water stinks. Thankfully, the fishing doesn't, provided you stay clear of contaminated water.

In recent weeks, we have used our noses to determine where to fish. That has taken us about 20 miles offshore to 80 feet. Gag grouper have moved to this depth and are on ledges and structure down to 100 feet. They have been biting on frozen sardines and whole squid.

The lack of bait inshore has made it difficult to have bait on hand to jumpstart a slow bite. As an alternative, we have been using a sabiki rig to catch bait while bottom fishing.

Red grouper are not picky and will take almost any bait on swiss cheese bottom. The larger ones have found it hard to resist a half of a grunt or squirrelfish put on the bottom. It takes patience when using bait of this size, but the rewards are worth it.

Fishing for red, mangrove, yellowtail, lane and vermillion snapper has been exceptional this year, perhaps because of Hurricane Dennis which may have pushed them into our area or the use of fish-excluding devices by shrimpers that reduce the bycatch of juvenile snapper. The key to catching them is using the lightest tackle possible.

Fishing for blackfin tuna behind anchored shrimpers in 100 to 110 feet has been disappointing. We have been bottom fishing at these spots but have hooked only a few bonita, producing great catch and release action on light spinning tackle.

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 August 3, 2005, 00:36:17]