Outdoors

Daily fishing report

Kingfish refuse to leave the area and can be found at many artificial reefs 10 miles from shore. We are also experiencing the best inshore grouper fishing in years.

By DAVE MISTRETTA
Published December 13, 2006

What's hot: Fishing remains strong even after each cold front passes. Kingfish refuse to leave the area and can be found at many artificial reefs 10 miles from shore. We are also experiencing the best inshore grouper fishing in years.

Smokers: Kingfish have been ravenous around many locations holding bait. It's common to have all anglers bowed up into a big mackerel first thing in the morning. Cooler water not only gives kings better taste, but their fighting strength more than doubles. You will think a monster-sized king devoured every offering. This time of year, the fat content in their fillets is higher, giving the meat great flavor without the fishy smell.

Groupers: An average day of bottom fishing consists of numerous gag groupers at 30-60 feet. Last year was pitiful for inshore anglers if they wanted grouper. Red Tide caused these bottom-dwellers to stay away. After a major recovery of the bottom, many rocky locations hold big numbers. Many days in the past six weeks we met our limit of 12 fish per boat. Anglers have gone home with 40-plus pounds of fillets on a good day. The past few days have been no different. As soon as the front went through, we were hooking big grouper only a few miles west of the passes. We have to take advantage of great fishing now, as it looks as if grouper season will close in February.

Dave Mistretta captains the Jaws Too out of Indian Rocks Beach. Call 727 595-3276, e-mail jawstoo@msn.com or see jawstoo.com.

[Last modified December 13, 2006, 05:26:19]