Outdoors

Captain's Corner

Fishers must accomodate to hot summer weather

By DAVE MISTRETTA
Published September 4, 2007

What's hot: The weather. Humid conditions have made fishing during the day a chore, especially for people not used to the heat. We have been periodically jumping over to swim to cool down. With this heat, about 15 minutes on one spot is good enough. The first five minutes seems to be when all the action occurs during this heated month.

Timing: Coordinate your schedule with tides for a good bite. Carefully watch the major and minor moon phases. More often than not you'll get some kind of action during this time.

Grouper: We are still catching our share of red grouper about 25 miles from shore. Some have been more than 14 pounds. Both dead and live baits work once you locate your targets.

Snapper: We have caught a good deal of mangrove snapper but nothing like the bite this time last year. The fish are usually quite aggressive during their spawn, which is supposed to be now. I have noticed undeveloped roe in many fish. Sometimes this happens with spawning fish - pay close attention to their fatty content and roe development. Look for the next full moon to be prime snapper fishing.

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 September 3, 2007, 23:30:58]