Outdoors

Captain's Corner

By JAY MASTRY, Times Correspondent
Published September 10, 2007

What's Hot: Bottomfishing the edges of the Egmont ships channel remains consistent, and mangrove snapper have been the best. On recent trips, we have created a frenzy on the surface with a chum bag and small slivers of cut bait. Saturday, we worked a patch of hard bottom along the edge in 44 feet, 10 miles offshore. Many species ganged up on our chum line. Grouper, scamp, triggerfish, mackerel and small sharks kept the rods bent. There are few keeper groupers.On many trips, we have released a couple of dozen.

Tactics: Since the full moon at the end of August, we've focused our attention outside the Skyway. Many mangos we've cleaned seem to have pushed that way, presumably to spawn. Now entering the new moon phase, I'll likely spend more time working the edges, ledges and rock piles inside the bay, where we've enjoyed success in Septembers past.

Tackle: Twenty-pound test won't get many keeper grouper out of their hiding places in heavy rock along the ships channel. Add a 11/2-foot, 30-pound leader with pieces of squid, octopus or cut bait to create commotion on the bottom. Give a chum bag a chance before offering frisky 3-inch whitebaits.

Jay Mastry charters Jaybird out of St. Petersburg. Call (727) 321-2142.

[Last modified September 9, 2007, 21:05:59]