Captain's Corner

By JAY MASTRY, Times Correspondent
Published December 20, 2007

What's hot: Prior to the cold front, kingfishing had gotten about as good as it gets. Scot Sadorf and his crew located a knot of large fish in 30 feet off St Pete Beach. Many of the couple dozen they released were in the 20- to 30-pound class, and a few even larger.

Changing conditions: Though it is too soon to assess the effects the plummeting water temperature will have on kingfishing, dipping into the low 60s likely will push the fish south to warmer conditions. Near-shore grouper also will be affected ,but they will be a bit slower to react. At least some will stay inside the 50-foot mark. Too cold for too long and they too will push offshore to less-frigid conditions. The large schools of live bait that were abundant a week ago will begin to thin. Pinfish, considerably more cold-water tolerant, will pick up the slack.

What's ahead: Sheepshead thrive in cold conditions and are showing up along seawalls, dock pilings, bridges and other areas of structure in the bays. Silver trout prefer it a little chilly, and soon large schools will swarm into the hard bottom areas within a half-mile of the beaches. Redington and Madeira Beach will be among the most popular areas between 10 and 20 feet.

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

[Last modified December 19, 2007, 19:50:58]