Captain's Corner

By DAVE MISTRETTA, Times Correspondent
Published December 6, 2007

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Great fishing: Action offshore has been astounding with bounties of pelagic and bottom feeders. We had one of our better fall days right before this last small front. A giant school of bait had settled on a piece of hard bottom about a mile inside the Clearwater 3-mile reef. It turned into a furious ambush of kings. We met our limit with ease.

Big catch: Mackerel of all sizes were attacking our slow-trolled pilchards. Our largest was a 35-pound king. We hooked two big fish at once, both tearing line off in different directions. We followed the fish that took the most line and our reward was a huge king. We never saw the other fish, but know it was huge. The fight ended when the line got tangled in a crab trap rope.

Grouper: The bottom fishing for grouper has been good, with countless days of limiting out. The best part is the short distance we have to travel.

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