Captain's Corner

What's hot: A new group of kingfish and Spanish mackerel arrived just before the recent cold fronts brought strong winds and high seas, conditions unsuitable for fishing.

By DAVE ZALEWSKI
Published April 11, 2007

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What's hot: A new group of kingfish and Spanish mackerel arrived just before the recent cold fronts brought strong winds and high seas, conditions unsuitable for fishing. These fish were greater in number and size than their predecessors, which often had to be measured to determine if they were legal; 12 inches for Spanish mackerel and 24 for kingfish. Hopefully, the drop in water temperature will slow the northward migration of these fish and give us a few extra weeks to catch them.

Tactics: Along with the larger fish, larger baits they are feeding upon have shown up. It is nice to have a full baitwell with baits caught nearshore. But on some days, the fish are finicky and will strike only baits caught near the fishing areas. A 3- or 4-ounce weight on your sabiki rig will help prevent larger baits from tangling up by keeping the main line taut.

Tip: Often, the "bite" on the popular mid water artificial reefs will be best just after sunrise and just before sunset, when there are few boats in the area to disturb the fish. Once the bite slows down there, moving a few miles to hard-bottom areas usually will result in success without having to contend with the numerous boats that fish these popular spots.