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Outdoors

Proposed two-month gag closure overturned

By ED WALKER
Published November 5, 2005

If the winds don't blow too hard this weekend, grouper anglers should find great action offshore.

In case you hadn't heard, a recent lawsuit filed in federal court by the Fishing Rights Alliance and the Coastal Conservation Association succeeded in overturning the proposed closure of gag grouper for November and December. The closure was intended to reduce red grouper landings by closing all species of grouper.

The judge ruled against the closure the day before it was to go into effect. That means anglers can keep gags longer than 22 inches, with a bag limit of five per person.

Trips this week produced great catches. On Thursday, we limited out on gags in just two stops and released 10-12 legal-sized fish and numerous shorts. Surprisingly, our biggest grouper were caught on cut bait.

Live pinfish accounted for many fish, but fresh-cut ladyfish was the bait of the day. Four double-digit gags were landed using chunks of the only ladyfish we had onboard. It might not be a bad idea to cast a jig near the grass flats for ladies while baiting up in the morning.

When fishing the shallow rocks our area is famous for, be sure to keep the weight to a minimum. The heavier the sinker, the more snags you'll encounter. When in 15-30 feet of water, you seldom need more than an ounce of weight. Huge live baits or strong tides may require you to go heavier, but try to use the smallest sinker to reach bottom.

Spanish mackerel have been out in force along the barrier islands. Schools of small threadfin herring have been holding along the edges of the grass flats. At daybreak, the macks have been working them over. Bluefish and jacks have been mixed in. The hot snook bite of late October stalled somewhat, as the inshore water temperature plummeted last week. Look for them to turn back on as they adjust to the change.

Big scaled sardines normally are the bait of choice. Yet when the water is cooler, we catch just as many on live pinfish.

Under cold conditions, snook will become lethargic and are less likely to rise to the surface to chase a sardine. Pinfish typically stay close to the bottom when free-lined. This keeps them in the strike zone longer, and that translates to more bites.

The downside to live pins is that they will try to hide from the fish by swimming under rocks and into the grass near pilings. By maintaining a slight tension on the line, anglers should be able to work the baits along the edges of the structure or snags with minimal tangling.

Redfish have been scattered but catchable. Most guides report picking up a red here and there in a day, but no large schools. Some are being taken out of the schools of mullet that have begun to pour out of the rivers, creeks and backwaters. Watch for mullet masses and wobble a weedless gold spoon through the middle of them.

Sheepshead have started to appear in larger quantity at the gulf-side oyster bars and jetties. Look for them to become more prevalent the next month or two as they gather for their winter spawning cycle.

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

[Last modified November 5, 2005, 01:22:18]