Plan to travel 30-plus miles offshore for good to excellent fishing this time of year. The earlier you can start your day, the better off you will be as most of the hot action has been early in the morning.
Catching live bait is still a problem near shore because of the Red Tide; however, if you are fortunate enough to pass bait schools on the way offshore take the time to gold-hook some live bait. Look for bait schools balled up on the bottom and set up adrift over the area. If you are successful with a keeper grouper, mark the spot and anchor your boat just up tide of the area. Work an area at least 30 minutes to make sure you have given the fish a chance to bite.
Snapper, both reds and mangos, have been hitting cut-up sardines and small live baits. The key here is light tackle. Use flora carbon leaders and a green glow bead for better hookups. Amberjack fishing is great over springs and shipwrecks in 130 to 150 feet of water. Live bait works best for amberjacks, however, diamond jigs worked hard can produce good catches of jacks if you cannot find live bait.
Bluewater fishing after the last hurricane should be good. The weed lines will be scattered all over, so trolling through weeds can be very frustrating. Look for areas that have tide rips and floating debris to concentrate your trolling efforts. Expect early morning to be your best bite and then late in the day. Try drift fishing live bait during the middle of the day using live bait. Chunking works for tuna. Cut up sardines in 1-inch pieces and drop a chunk every 30 seconds to attract tuna to your bait.
Larry "Huffy" Hoffman charters out of John's Pass, Treasure Island. Call 727 709-9396 or e-mail him at huffyl@tampabay.rr.com
