Outdoors

Captain's Corner

By Troy P. Sapp, Times Correspondent
Published February 14, 2008

Stay close: Grouper harvest in federal waters is closed from Friday to March 15. For most on the west coast this means fishing in state waters, within 9 nautical miles of the coast, in depths of 50 feet or less. Trolling this time of year can be very effective and allows anglers to cover a lot of bottom that is normally overlooked. Hard-bottom areas with scattered rocks and ledges along our immediate coastline will produce, as well as the ship channels inside Tampa Bay. Effective depths start as shallow as 15 feet and continue out to the state water limits.

Techniques: Deep diving plugs in combination with another rod trolling a No. 2 or No. 3 planer allows for a staggered amount of line out and separate trolling lures. Anglers can make turns necessary to avoid the numerous crab trap buoys or a sharp turn to return to an area that has produced a strike.

Tips: Keep your GPS on the track mode; a spot that has produced a strike will, more times than not, produce another. This is a great way to add to the numbers in your black book.

Troy P. Sapp with Fins and Tails Guide Service can be reached at (813) 920-6928.

[Last modified February 13, 2008, 20:55:29]