Outdoors

Captain's corner

Good time for Gag Grouper Fishing

By STEVE PAPEN
Published December 19, 2006

What's hot: Gag grouper fishing is about as hot as it can get. Just about all depths are producing banner catches in the 8- to 15-pound class. These fish will test your anchoring ability as they seldom venture very far from structure. Live baits are still outproducing sardines, and will until water temperatures fall into the lower 60s to high 50s. Many fish also have been taken by trolling with large plugs and jigs in water as shallow as 15 feet. The best catches have been coming from 50-70 feet of water, from Sarasota to Tarpon Springs.

Tactics: One effective way to find new areas and target gags is trolling. The first step is buying a very detailed bathometric chart of the area. These charts show bottom contours and assist in finding hard bottom. Once in your new area, start by deploying deep diving plugs. While trolling, watch your bottom machine for ledges or rock piles. If spotted, mark them with your GPS and troll back over them. You also can anchor and drop live or dead baits.

Tackle: When fishing for grouper in shallow water, a conventional reel loaded with 60- to 80-pound mono is preferred, as is a fast tapered rod in the same class. Terminal tackle should consist of at least a 7/0 hook attached to a 3- to 4-foot section of 60- to 80-pound leader under a 3- to 4-ounce egg lead. This will help pry hard-charging gags from their lairs.

Steve Papen charters out of Indian Shores and can be reached at (727) 642-3411 or at fintasticinc.com.

[Last modified December 18, 2006, 23:04:11]