Outdoors

Daily fishing report

By DAVE ZALEWSKI
Published September 6, 2005

South County Reef, typically stocked with bait, is bare.

A freighter anchored in 60 feet produced blue runners, pinfish and a few threadfins on gold hook rigs dropped near the anchor chains. Once within 2 miles of 10 Fathom Wreck, a popular barracuda hangout this time of year, we deployed blue runners on stinger rigs and slow-trolled the structure. After 20 unsuccessful minutes, we went bottom fishing.

Eighty feet continues to be the right depth for grouper and snapper. Red grouper have become more active on flat, hard-bottom areas and were feeding heavily, which is typical with the passing of a hurricane in the gulf.

Gag grouper and snapper provided nonstop action on the ledges and rock piles. Many of the gags caught had scrapes, both from rocky escape routes and the effects of the hurricane that prevented them from feeding for several days. Red and yellowtail snapper have been caught on nearly every trip and continue to be a bonus for those downsizing 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 September 6, 2005, 03:15:21]