Outdoors

Captain's Corner

By LARRY HOFFMAN
Published December 4, 2007

What's hot: Fishing for grouper and amberjack is excellent. As we transition from fall to winter conditions, grouper and amberjack will be closer to shore. Amberjack will be as shallow as 70 feet, and grouper will be in 20 feet over small ledges and small pieces of hard bottom. Kingfish and Spanish mackerel are still around and should stayas long as bait schools remain and the water temperature holds in the 60-degree range.

Location:Amberjack are holding over shipwrecks and springs from 70 to 130 feet of water. Live bait have been effective on amberjack. Live bluerunners are the best live bait. A large pinfish or threadfin will produce as well. The amberjack have not been huge, but some are 30 to 40 pounds. Kingfish are holding around the Egmont Channel markers and near shore wrecks. Look for the bait schools to help find fish. Kingfish are opportunistic feeders and do not travel far for a meal. Grouper fishing over cheese-rock bottoms and ledges is excellent. Limits of gags are being caught in water as shallow as 25 feet, with the best action in 40-50 feet. Red grouper are best caught in 70- to 90-foot depths.

Tips: Start in close and work offshore. Use heavy tackle with 60- to 80-pound leaders and lockdown drags to prevent cutoffs in shallow water.

[Last modified December 3, 2007, 23:24:06]