Outdoors

Captain's Corner

Be patient: large kingfish are still out there.

By DAVE ZALEWSKI
Published December 21, 2006

What's hot: Bottom fishing for gag grouper, triggerfish, mangrove snapper and white grunts has taken over the spotlight from trolling for kingfish and Spanish mackerel. But don't give up on the quest for the migratory fish. Traditionally, the end of each season produces impressive catches of large kingfish for those with patience using large baits slow-trolled around artificial reefs and wrecks where there are baitfish.

Tactics: The water is exceptionally clear, and when the sky is clear and sun is high, dark patches of hard rocky bottom can be easily seen in as much as 50 feet of water. The ledges that usually hold gag grouper can be found by looking for where the dark areas end or by examining the fish finder, which shows where the rock ends and sand begins.

Tips: Because of the water clarity, it is often necessary to downsize tackle to avoid spooking the wary larger fish. Forty-pound test mainline with a 3-foot, 50-pound test fluorocarbon leader, 3-ounce swivel sinker and 6/0 hook is a good place to start. The key to fishing lighter tackle is to use a uniknot for strength and to check both line and leader for nicks and abrasions every time a hook is rebaited.

Dave Zalewski charters the Lucky Too out of Madeira Beach and can be reached at 727 397-8815 or by e-mail at Luckytoo2@aol.com.

[Last modified December 20, 2006, 23:17:46]