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Captain's corner

By LARRY HOFFMAN

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 10, 2001

Fishing patterns rarely change, but this winter has added a few wrinkles to our strategies on catching fish. Our weather patterns have not been normal, and neither has the fishing.

Offshore fishing over hard bottom has been the ticket. We continue to get fair catches of grouper in 50 to 65 feet of water south of Egmont Channel, but the bite may turn off the next day and we have trouble getting a grunt to bite.

Capt. Garner Koons and Mike Hubbard did well with mangrove snapper in 90 feet this week. But when we traveled to their small area, we worked hard just to catch a few fish. Capt Craig Lahr worked 40 miles offshore this week to get amberjack and found only small jacks. When he moved to 90 feet, he caught half a dozen gags and a 20-pound red grouper.

I am convinced you need to target areas that show good signs of fish on your bottom machine and not rely on traditional hot spots at this point in our winter season. Lahr caught most of his big grouper on areas that normally would not produce fish this time of year. But how can you argue with success? My advice is to get creative.

- Larry "Huffy" Hoffman charters the Enterprise out of Kingfish Wharf, Treasure Island. Call (727) 709-9396.

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