Captain's Corner

By Jay Mastry

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 9, 2000

Unless you're tired of catching them, I wouldn't put those Kingfish rigs away. Results of Saturday's tournament and continued reports of fish to the south are evidence there are still a bunch to be caught.

Early last week came a few of the largest fish we caught this spring, in 70 feet of water. A brief stop at the Betty Rose (a well publicized wreck at 45 feet) will net you all the Spanish sardines, cigar minnows, and blue runners you'll need. Slow trolling Tuesday enticed a couple kings in the 30-pound class with a few schoolies mixed in.

Anchoring on a ledge and bottom fishing produced gag grouper up to 11 pounds, a few scamp, grunts and other bottom feeders.

Grouper will whack your downrigger baits on occasion. Light Kingfish outfits aren't much of a match for these beasts. By keeping the boat in gear, tightening the drag a bit, and reeling for all you're worth, occasionally you can get one to turn the right way.

Though we could only manage a 25.16-pounder during the tournament, others caught some larger. We were kept busy with bonita, barracuda, shark, mackerel, and even an acrobatic dolphin that chased down one of our "Spaniards".

If you've had your fill of Kingfish, grab your fighting belt, because it's tarpon time. Silver kings are crashing baits from Tampa Bay to Charlotte Harbor and soon will be seen migrating south.

Tight bellied and full of roe, they are as heavy as they will get before their June spawning ritual.

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

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