Cash in on return of greenback

By PETE KATSARELIS

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 3, 2001

At long last the Gulf temperature has risen above 70 degrees. More importantly, the pilchard herring are starting to show up.

Pilchard herring, more commonly known as greenback or whitebait, are the key to snook fishing in this area. Since the snook probably haven't seen them since November, they hardly can resist the temptation of nice frisky whitebait floundering in front of them.

The first couple of times each year you get greenback often turn out to be the best snook-fishing days of the season, since the snook haven't been pressured and seem to have forgotten their hook-shy tendencies.

Last week marked the first time this year that I successfully caught these elusive baits, and that trip was nothing short of spectacular. Richard Wickstrom of Michigan followed his first snook, with five more ranging from 8-13 pounds. He caught a couple of dozen large trout and eight redfish.

Getting the whitebait may take some work, but it's worth it. Once you have caught it, look to cash in this golden ticket. River and canal mouths, as well as docks that extend out into the bay, should be holding snook.

Though they'll bite well nearly any time you throw a greenback out in front of them, the snook will bite best when the tide is moving the quickest or around the turn.

If you don't have any success in getting greenback, there are some excellent opportunities on artificial lures. If you have the boat to do it, try drifting the flats in 18 inches to three feet of water and casting top-water plugs.

Often the largest trout, some over five pounds, will be roaming this depth. Perhaps nothing is more exciting than a big surface strike. There should be plenty of redfish and jack spread out amongst the skinny water.

If you don't have access to shallow depths, there has been plenty of action on jigs in the 3- to 6-foot range. Retrieve the jig slowly, just barely bumping it off the bottom with sharp twitches.

You'll find most strikes will come just after the twitch, as the lure descends to the bottom. As this happens, there probably will be some slack in your line. Make sure to reel tightly on the fish before setting the hook.

The most common error when fishing with a lure, or any bait for that matter, is setting the hook before the line is tight. In most cases, you'll jerk the hook right out of the fish's mouth or get a weak hook set if you don't tighten up.

Offshore, scattered catches of king mackerel are being reported. That makes sense with the water temperature just above that magical number of 72.

The spring run of kingfish generally takes place a little farther offshore than its fall counterpart, and usually seems to last longer. Try trolling the hard bottom in about 40 feet with live blue runner or threadfin herring. Spoons trolled on a planer make a good substitute.

The areas that were holding uncooperative grouper just a few weeks ago are starting to heat up. Live or dead baits fished in 50-70-foot ranges should produce some action.

Judging by the amounts of fish during the winter, this should be one of the best fishing seasons in recent years. Snook, redfish and gator trout are pining for whitebait, and offshore opportunities are heating up. This is one season you won't want to miss.

- Pete Katsarelis, (727) 439-FISH, charters out of Tarpon Springs.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright