Outdoors

Daily fishing report

By DAVE ZALEWSKI
Published November 6, 2005

Water temperature is optimum for kingfishing and clarity has returned to normal. The only things lacking are the schools of baitfish and their pelagic predators. Recent stops at Treasure Island, Madeira Beach and South County artificial reefs were disappointing, not only because of the lack of kingfish at these former can't miss spots but because of a lack of baitfish such as Spanish sardines and blue runners.

The federal court ruling that rescinded the ban on fishing for gag and black grouper in federal waters allowed us to venture offshore when we realized kingfishing would only result in dragging holes in the water with no fish to show for it.

Instead of making the run to the 95- to 105-foot depths, we stopped at 70 feet, which gave us more fishing time and saved fuel. We were rewarded with continuous action on ledges and adjacent hard bottom from gag grouper ranging in size from throwbacks that did not meet the 22-inch limit to fish in the 12- to 15-pound class. The fish were willing to hit cut sardines and squid, but when the bite slowed a live pinfish rewarded us with one or two keepers per spot.

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

In Ruskin, Bo Johnson of Cape Coral and Mike Del Duca of Naples won the Redfish Tour Pro Division Championship with a two-day, four-fish aggregate of 25.79 pounds. Top prize was a 22-foot boat with 225 horsepower engine, trailer and electronics package. Rich Tudor of Islamorada and Anthony Randazzo of Belle Chase, La., won team of the year and $15,000. They were third in the championship with 22.57 pounds. The second-place team of Mike Friday and Dan Latham (22.97) had the heaviest redfish, 7.93 pounds.

[Last modified November 6, 2005, 02:02:18]