Captain's Corner

By LARRY HOFFMAN, Times Correspondent
Published November 7, 2007

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What's hot: Kingfish season is at its best. Numerous kings have been caught in the 4-pound range and high 30s last weekend in the 16th annual Passport Marine Suncoast Kingfish Classic. Our beaches are holding lots of bait, and mackerel up to 5 pounds are being caught on live baits. Farther offshore shipwrecks Rube Allyn, Sheridan, Ten Fathom and Betty Rose are holding kingfish. Egmont Channel markers 1-4 also are holding kingfish and a few cobias have been landed. Bottom fishing is good and you can catch good numbers of mangrove snappers and gag grouper in as shallow as 40 feet. Just find a small ledge or hard bottom area.

Tactics: Fishing for large kings requires big live baits, light tackle and high-speed retrieval reels. Kingfish don't get big by following the pack. They are loners and have seen a lot of hardware over their lifespan. The more natural the presentation the better your chances of catching that big king. Chum bags are used to attract the fish and slow-trolled big baits are the solution. Patience is required when trying to hook that 40-pounder.

Larry "Huffy" Hoffman charters out of John's Pass, Treasure Island, and can be reached at huffyl@tampabay.rr.com or 727 709-9396.