Outdoors

Captain's Corner

By STEVE PAPEN, Times Correspondent
Published September 16, 2007

What's hot: This is the time of the year when the first wave of the fall gag grouper migration enters the shallower waters north of Clearwater. Normally when the water temperatures are in the mid to upper 80s these fish stay farther offshore under the blanket of cooler water in depths of 100 feet or more.

Locations: Areas of hard bottom, 40 to 60 feet, will produce nice fish and will only get better. Concentrate on the smaller ledges and rock piles. The most productive spots will be those not frequented by the rest of the fleet. Finding these spots sometimes requires long hours of driving through areas staring at the bottom machine for any signs of life. But if one of these oasis is found, it can pay off for years.

Tactics: Anchoring on these small spots takes time to master. Tide and wind have to be taken into consideration. Marker buoys are a helpful tool, but it is important to have just enough line out to hit bottom and 5-8 feet extra to compensate for any sea conditions.

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

[Last modified September 15, 2007, 19:53:04]