Outdoors

Captain's Corner

By JIM HUDDLESTON, Times Correspondent
Published October 15, 2007

What's hot: The cooling water temperature along the Gulf Coast has many inshore species actively feeding throughout the tide cycles. Snook have been the most noticeable gamefish to turn on this month. Many of these linesiders had been slow to bite until this cooling trend. These stimulated fish are moving into backcountry haunts where they feed well when the water floods into the mangroves and docks. A low cast under branches or between pilings produces good hookups. Medium-sized sardines are working better than larger baits because it is easier for snook to catch a smaller bait in close quarters. Schools of redfish are roaming across the grass flats, and the extreme lower tides are exposing areas that show tailing fish. These fish will start to root around in search of food as soon as the tide turns to roll back in. A great bait for these reds is a tail-hooked select shrimp placed within a few feet of the feeding fish. Pinching off the last section of a shrimp produces a scent trail and makes for a more natural presentation.

Pro's tips: When the water cools, the visibility across the grass flats becomes very clear, and downsizing tackle can give anglers an added edge in catching more fish. The superbraids of today allow for lighter line and increased casting distances. Eight-pound braid and 20-pound fluorocarbon leader are a good combination for working artificials on trout, reds and snook.

Jim Huddleston charters out of Tampa, Palm Harbor and Clearwater and can be reached at jim@captainhud.com or 727 439-9017.

[Last modified October 14, 2007, 20:38:49]