Captain's Corner

By JAY MASTRY, Times Correspondent
Published January 10, 2008

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What's hot: The bottom bite has been worthwhile and 90 feet has been among the most productive. A trip Sunday provided Justin Mastry and his crew an impressive catch. Along with keeper gag and red grouper, the party landed a half-dozen keeper scamp, a 7-pound mangrove snapper and had nonstop action releasing red snapper and amberjack. Squid and frozen sardines worked well, but the larger fish preferred live pinfish.

Best of the rest: Silver trout are on hard bottom off the beaches this time of year. What they lack in size they make up for in numbers and often are caught two at a time on tandem-rigged jigs.

Bait and tackle: Barnacles, green mussels, oysters, fiddler crabs or pieces of shrimp are all worthy baits for sheepshead. When dock fishing or working the jetties, a split shot of weight is all that is necessary. The store-bought version of tandem-rigged jigs works great for silver trout, or make your own. I like a length of 30-pound leader material. A three-eighths ounce jig head on the bottom and a quarter-ounce on top reduces tangles, allows for longer casts and gets down quicker.

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