Outdoors

Captain's Corner

By Doug Hemmer, Times Correspondent
Published February 15, 2008

Offshore: Today marks the start of the closed season for grouper in federal waters. Red snapper season is also closed. So the main offshore targets will be mangrove snapper, amberjack and kingfish.

Amberjack are hanging near wrecks and ledges in 120 feet of water or deeper. Most anglers are catching amberjack on live pinfish and heavy jigs. Large butterfly jigs have been the most productive. Drop the jig to the bottom and use a fast jigging technique to work the lure 30 feet off the bottom. If you don't get a strike, open your bail and let the jig drop back to the bottom. Repeat this until you get a strike.

Mangrove snapper are hanging in the 60- to 90-foot range. If you go deeper you will run into the red snapper that are off limits. The mangrove snapper are feeding on frozen sardines and medium-sized live pinfish. Light tackle in the 20-pound class will draw the most strikes.

The kingfish are being caught on free-lined sardines deployed while bottom fishing. The best action has been in 120 feet of water or deeper. The water temperature that far out is in the low 70s. This will keep small groups of kings hanging in that area.

Inshore: The flats in lower Tampa Bay are holding good numbers of trout, bluefish, pompano and ladyfish. Jigs are the most productive bait.

Drifting the flats while working the jig close to the bottom will produce fish quicker than anchoring. The trout like to hang in areas that have a mixture of sand holes and grass. The best depth is 3 to 4 feet. Pinch the barbs to make it easier to release the undersized trout.

The blues and ladyfish like to stay in the larger sand holes. They also like the lures worked in a fast, hard jigging motion. For those who have not caught a bluefish, beware. Do not stick your finger in a bluefish's mouth. They have a set of teeth that resembles a piranha's. Use pliers or a dehooking device to retrieve your jig.

You will know where the pompano are when they skip out from under your boat. When you see this happen, move upwind of that area and drift back to where you saw them skip. A small Love's Lure or a Doc's Goofy jig worked close to the bottom will give you a shot at this tasty fish.

The easiest fish to target are the silver trout that school along the beaches. North of the Redington Long Pier is a piece of hard bottom that holds large numbers of silver trout. Most anglers drift where they see schools on their bottom machine. Tandem rigs will allow you to catch two at a time. Mix the jig colors until you find the one they like best.

Doug Hemmer charters out of St. Petersburg and can be reached at (727) 347-1389.

[Last modified February 14, 2008, 21:18:05]