Outdoors

Daily fishing report

By LARRY HOFFMAN
Published January 5, 2006

We took advantage of the break in the weather this week and targeted a great fishing area in 55 feet of water southwest of John's Pass. The winds were out of the northwest, and with 4-foot rollers it was a perfect time to head south.

The cheese rock area we fished has produced great gags and mangrove snapper year in and year out. But two hours and a few grunts later we were very disappointed. We realized the Red Tide had damaged this area, so we plotted a deeper spot in 90 feet. I fished with longtime friends Larry Jiesy and his sons Curt and Rich on my birthday. In 90 feet we finally got some good action picking a few gags and mangrove snapper. Rich caught one of the biggest champion porgies we have ever boated, at least four pounds. The porgy hit on a big piece of squid. At first we thought it was a keeper grouper. Dead bait was best for mangroves snapper, grunts, sea bass and porgies. All our keeper grouper were caught on live pinfish.

We planned to fish deepwater springs, but after picking up small pinfish at the tackle store and no big bait at two different bait stops we abandoned that plan. The offshore weather was great with good visibility and good action in 85 feet and deeper water.

Concentrate your fishing in 65 feet or deeper water and then move offshore. The biggest challenge this time of year will be getting large baits. Garner Koons and Mike Hubbard had a great day this past weekend despite heavy fog. Once they got to the fishing spots they produced real nice catches of gags and mangrove snappers. Dead bait, then switching to live seems to work best right now.

Larry "Huffy" Hoffman charters out of John's Pass, Treasure Island. Call 727 709-9396 or e-mail him at huffyl@tampabay.rr.com

[Last modified January 5, 2006, 01:19:08]