Offshore fishing report

Weather makes all the difference

By DAVE MISTRETTA
Published January 6, 2006

This month's fishing pretty much depends on the weather. If the cold fronts subside, plan on some decent action.

Red grouper now can be kept in federal waters. There seems to be some modest numbers of legal fish in 115-foot depths. We stayed out of those areas last month because the reds didn't fare very well to fishing pressure, even after being vented for release.

A few of the ledges and rock piles in 80 to 90 feet have held a few keeper reds. Anglers reeling in numerous reef fish over a ledge often attract the reds, which are lured over from another area because they are curious.

If the seas are calm this will be the month for amberjack. You have to travel a good distance offshore to find these pelagic fish, because they have not moved closer to shore. The wrecks and springs 50 miles and farther out are really the only spots holding jacks now.

It seems that right around the time of the Super Bowl (Feb. 5), amberjack start to trickle their way toward shore. The bigger jacks don't normally come into the wrecks in less than 75 feet, but occasionally you'll find a giant as shallow as 40 feet.

Many of the smaller jacks are migrating onto rocks and ledges in 90 feet. This is par for the course this time of year.

In years past there was so much confusion about the differences between small amberjacks, banded rudderfish and lesser amberjacks, the laws adjusted to accommodate anglers. You are allowed five jacks per person between 14 and 22 inches fork length. This solves the problem of figuring out the difference of similar fish that are the same size.

You are allowed one jack of more than 28 inches, and it is counted in the limit of five per person. We will never keep that many jacks for the cutting board, but a few of those smaller ones make a great smoked fillet dinner.

This time of year also brings one of the tastiest fish in the gulf closer to us. Triggerfish can be found on the ledges year-round, but January seems to lure in a larger migration to many of the shallower ledges. Some years provide anglers with these tasty fish in depths as shallow as 25 feet, but don't expect too much action this year. Effects from Red Tide have killed many of the reefs close to shore, and it is live reefs that attract triggerfish.

We have started to catch a few triggers as shallow as 65 feet, and 50 feet might will hold some fish by the end of the month.

Use the same rigs used for Key West grunts. A double-hook rig with the sinker on the bottom works great. Small chunks of squid are the best baits for a hungry trigger.

Many anglers get frustrated trying to clean a trigger fish because the skin is so tough. A knife can be dulled immediately when you are trying to cut through the outer skin. We stick the point of the fillet knife along side the dorsal fin (also called the trigger) and push down. This allows the knife to sneak by the tough hide and penetrate the soft fillets. Cutting from inside the skin toward the outside allows easy access to the trigger's wonderful fillets. As far as I am concerned, trigger is one of the top 10 reef fish in the gulf.

Gag grouper fishing also depends on the weather. This time of year is when mature fish gather in preparation of their spawn, normally in the deeper waters of the gulf. If the weather allows anglers to travel great distances, many will be searching the giant ledges of the middle grounds and other areas.

Even those anglers fishing close to shore will have accessibility to gag grouper with juvenile fish not ready to spawn yet. There are keeper gags in the mix, even with all the spawning getting ready to take place. If you can get out at least 20 miles, your chances of coming home with a grouper dinner will be much greater.

Water temperatures will dictate the intensity of gag groupers' appetites for the next month. Shallower waters of 90 feet and less shut down in cold weather. The deeper you travel into the gulf, the warmer the water, allowing anglers to experience a better day of fishing.

[Last modified January 6, 2006, 01:04:19]