Outdoors

Captain's Corner

By DAVE MISTRETTA
Published February 6, 2008

Good fishing: Fishing remains steady in our gulf waters. A variety can be targeted 30 miles out. We have caught cobia, red and gag grouper, snapper, bonito, amberjack, sharks and even a blackfin tuna.

Fish are on the move: Weather conditions have been ideal, confusing migratory fish. They think spring is near, then start to relocate from their winter jaunts. Cobia are the perfect example. We found a huge school cruising in with a herd of amberjacks. Normally these schools migrate to us in late March or April. We quickly hooked on some live pinfish and began casting. The cobia swam right over and inhaled each offering.

Great catch: On another occasion, we were fishing in 88 feet. One client hooked a large squirrel-fish on a grouper rod, sending it to the bottom. A few seconds later he was holding on for dear life. The reel's drag was locked down tight, so no line could be taken off. This is the only way to stop a hefty grouper. This fish was much bigger than a grouper, however, literally dragging my customer around the boat's cockpit. We all anxiously watched the tired angler wrestle the unknown fish for five long minutes. That's when we finally saw the huge tuna come to surface.

[Last modified February 5, 2008, 23:25:25]