Outdoors

Captain's Corner

By DAVE MISTRETTA, Times Correspondent
Published January 6, 2008

Changing weather: Patterns have shifted to winter conditions, forcing a change in game plan. Cold water temperatures will make the day quite cool, especially when running the boat fast across the brisk gulf waters. Even when air temperatures rise, the effects from the recent cold blast will be felt for weeks.

Bottom fishing: Grouper fishing should start to slow closer to shore, 20 to 30 feet. About 20 miles out the water starts to warm. That's where most of the action will take place this week. Red and gag groupers settled on many rocks at this depth before the cold front. They should still be at this 80-foot depth, and be ready to eat.

Tactics: Sometimes live bait is not as appealing to the bottom fish soon after its metabolism slows. Chunked squid and frozen sardines would be a smart start. These easy offerings allow many smaller reef fish to feed. When conditions chill, my favorite is the chunked squid. Everything seems to be attracted to its strong scent. After a few minutes it's best to diversify, mixing up a wider variety of bottom baits.

Dave Mistretta captains the Jaws Too out of Indian Rocks Beach and can be reached at jawstoo@msn.com jawstoo.com or 727 595-3276.

[Last modified January 5, 2008, 20:09:48]