Outdoors

Captain's Corner

By DAVE MISTRETTA, Times Correspondent
Published September 23, 2007

Fall migrations: Bottom fishing has been in a transitional mode the past two weeks. Cooling water temperatures have triggered a migration of grouper. Some of the shallower depths are starting to produce decent fish, so traveling 30 or more miles is no longer a necessity.

Red grouper: Reds are much more aggressive than other grouper and are the first to attack a baited hook. Baits can range on a large scale - from dead chunks of fish to crabs, live bait, cut pieces of octopus, squid and anything else that wiggles. When reds get hungry, they will eat anything.

More action: Keeper gag grouper are starting to work their way closer to shore from deep in the gulf. Some have been hitting 10 pounds or more. Gag grouper are often referred to as "black grouper" but should not be mistaken with a true black grouper. An abundance of smaller fish are with the keeper grouper. Use care when removing the hooks with these 18- to 20-inch fish. They will be keepers next year because they grow about 2 inches a year. Expect more fish to move closer to us after the cool fronts start passing through. By mid October, bottom fishing will peak in waters as shallow as 20 feet.

Dave Mistretta captains the Jaws Too out of Indian Rocks Beach. Call 727 595-3276, e-mail jawstoo@msn.com or visit jawstoo.com.

[Last modified September 22, 2007, 21:00:46]