Outdoors

Daily fishing report

By MIKE WHITMAN
Published December 27, 2005

The weather not being particularly cooperative the past several days, we have not been offshore. But the grouper and snapper bite up in the bay has been fairly consistent. We have been able to catch close to our limit each day. The fish are not trophies but taste good. Trolling the edges with 6- to 8-ounce lead heads with pink and/or lime green curly tail works best for grouper. A large live shrimp is hard for snapper to resist.

With this recent blast of cold air the grouper should start to move in a little closer. We will look for fish inside 50 feet on the breaks west of Indian Rocks Beach.

The amberjack bite should be good on offshore wrecks and springs. They eat aggressively when presented large baits such as blue runners or spadefish.

As this fishing year ends check your safety equipment. Make sure flares and fire extinguisher are not expired. Upgrade life jackets to type ones and add flashing lights so you can be found at night if necessary. Most important, check the battery and hydrostatic releases on your EPIRBs and life rafts.

--Mike Whitman charters the Mega-Bite out of Gulfport. Call 727 455-2483 or view the Web site at www.megabitecharters.com

[Last modified December 27, 2005, 02:30:20]