Outdoors

Captain's Corner

By DAVE ZALEWSKI
Published January 15, 2008

What's hot: Recent cold fronts have driven most of the remaining kingfish south to warmer water. It never hurts to deploy a flatline with a frozen sardine while bottom fishing because a few kings always seem to stay in the area. The majority of these bonus fish are caught bottom fishing near wrecks, springs and the natural gas pipeline in water at least 60 feet deep. Bottom fishing for grouper, snapper, triggerfish and white grunts was outstanding just before the last cold front arrived.

Tip:During winter, it is easy to overrun the depth that the fish are holding in, especially on a nice day. The 10-fathom curve 60 feet has numerous areas of limestone outcroppings, and it is usually not necessary to burn the fuel and waste the time without a line in the water at this time of year.

Large triggerfish have taken up residence on most of the edges and rocky outcroppings in the 60-foot depths and are feeding heavily. To target this delicious species, downsize to a two-hook snapper rig with a 3-ounce sinker on the bottom and hooks no larger than 2/0. Triggerfish have to be at least 12 inches from the tip of the fish to the fork.

[Last modified January 14, 2008, 22:40:48]