Outdoors

Captain's Corner

By JAY MASTRY, Times Columnist
Published November 3, 2007

What's hot: Kingfish are here, and for the next couple of weekends, it's showtime along the Kingfish Tournament Trail. Even with undesirable conditions this week, kings were caught along the Gulf beaches, from Sand Key to Longboat Key. Several were in the 30-pound class and a few even bigger. In spite of small craft advisories with winds 20-30 mph, easterly winds have spared the near-shore Gulf waters from being pounded. Bait schools have remained together inside the 20-foot depths and the kings will stay as long as the bait does.

On Tuesday, in howling winds and nagging rain, seas were relatively calm a half-mile from shore. Along with kingfish and mackerel we jumped a couple of late-season tarpon while slow trolling ladyfish and greenbacks around bait pods in 15 feet off St. Pete Beach. Eight spectacular jumps, a half-dozen reel-screaming runs and 45 minutes later, Regina Nicholls of St. Petersburg released an estimated 100-pounder.

If winds remain easterly, results from this weekend's SKA-sanctioned kingfish tournament out of John's Pass promise to be impressive.

Bait choices: Big baits are going to be the ticket for a successful tournament. Ladyfish can be caught at many passes and along edges of grass flats. Mullet may be gathered around marinas and residential canals. Mackerel can be caught on a variety of jigs, spoons, or plugs. We've caught full-grown whitebait and greenbacks at bridges before daylight and jiggled them on gold-hook rigs out of the same bait schools we've been trolling through off the beaches.

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

[Last modified November 2, 2007, 19:57:08]