Outdoors

Daily fishing report

By CHAD CARNEY
Published May 13, 2006

A few weeks makes a big difference in conditions and marine life this time of year. On the St. Pete Beach Reef, visibility dropped from crystal clear to about 12 feet Wednesday. Bait was everywhere and some nice gag grouper cruised by the M-60 Army tanks. We could see twice that far on the Tug Orange at the South County Reef.

Algae on the ocean bottom, commonly referred to as "gumbo," was the cause for reduced visibility. The gumbo isn't a phenomenon exclusive to Florida's west coast. Most of our shallow reefs had some gumbo on the bottom, and it was also on a lot of the natural reefs in Key West and the Dry Tortugas last weekend.

As boating season heats up, keep in mind that our actions on the water can have consequences. This week a derelict rowboat tied to one of my dock posts and a public seawall broke free and repeatedly scraped the bow of my boat. Errant fish hooks often snag dock lines and cut unsuspecting hands. Wakes from even small vessels create danger for others under way and can easily damage rafted-off boats or some in slips.

Courtesy on fishing sites goes a long way. If a site is small, keep a lookout for markers, dive flags and bubbles before approaching a boat. Only do so at idle, and from up current to avoid fishing lines. Rather than barging in, keep your distance and ask a captain how long he will remain on the site. A nearby coordinate might even be offered.

Chad Carney teaches diving and spearfishing in the Tampa Bay area. Call 727 423-7775 or visit his Web site at www.mobilescuba.com

[Last modified May 13, 2006, 02:30:25]