Outdoors

Captain's Corner

By DAVE ZALEWSKI, Times Correspondent
Published January 2, 2008

What's hot: Red and gag grouper, scamp, triggerfish and white grunts were feeding well last weekend in anticipation of the cold front that will stir up the bottom. As a bonus, anglers who used a flat line while anchored for benthic species were catching kingfish. The kings were brought to the boat by chum (cut or pinch off the tails of sardines so they don't spin as they drift down), the activity of fish being reeled up and the pressure-expelled stomach contents from grouper being brought up from the bottom.

Tip: Some kingfish remained in our area throughout last winter. Hopefully, we will experience the same this year. A live sardine or hardtail makes for a great stinger-rigged flat-line bait. Using frozen sardines in place of live baits is often more effective during the winter months because the current will hold the dead bait suspended in the water column where the chum line is working. The natural gas pipeline, wrecks in 60 feet or deeper and the freshwater springs will continue to hold some bait. These are also prime spots for targeting that bonus kingfish or blackfin tuna during the next three months.

Dave Zalewski charters the Lucky Too out of Madeira Beach. Call (727) 397-8815.

[Last modified January 1, 2008, 20:51:21]