With sunny skies and temperatures in the 80s, a trip offshore likely will give you early spring fever. Last week we saw bonita and mackerel crashing pods of bait south of Egmont Ships Channel. Barracuda have shown up on some ledges, and a half-dozen reports of kingfish being caught have trickled in.

We could be a couple of weeks ahead of our customary spring run. Full-grown white minnows have shown up at one of my favorite bait holes. Shad and greenbacks are sneaking around in the dark at one bridge leading to the gulf. And birds are pounding baits in the surf along the gulf beaches.

Offshore bottom fishing picked up last week. Working ledges in 50 feet off Anna Maria, we were treated to some of the finest eating fish. Along with grouper and triggerfish, the bonus was scamp. Rarely caught in these parts over 10 pounds, we were rewarded with several of these, widely considered the tastiest of the grouper family. Sometimes mistaken for juvenile gags, they are light tan with small brown spots covering their body.

If unable to get offshore, "sheepie" are biting around jetties along the beach, and silver trout are yanking drags on the shores of Redington.

- Jay Mastry charters Jaybird out of St. Petersburg. Call (727) 321-2142.

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