Captain's corner

By DAVE ZALEWSKI

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 20, 2000

Even though I am on the water all day, I return to the beach at sunset to find a few moments of solitude. It amazes me that so few people take advantage of our beaches at this almost magical time of the day.

Some evenings, I see people fishing from the beach. It is evident from tackle, positioning and success rates who the locals are and who is simply passing some time or trying to employ methods that may work in other parts of the country but are not useful here.

I have learned a lot from Sean Wert, a young Redington Beach resident. I have watched him, fishing near other anglers, catch fish on nearly every cast while they look on in amazement. He fishes from the shoreline or from the sandbar just past the swash channel that runs along the beach.

When fishing from the bar, he usually casts toward the beach. Most tourists cast from the beach, with the bait ending up on the shallow water of the bar. The only exception is when a school of bait is seen working its way outside of the bar. Casting a jig or white bait near the school will result in a hookup of Spanish mackerel, jack crevalle, ladyfish, trout or snook. These species can be found patrolling the swash channel along with a sizeable population of flounder.

Dave Zalewski charters the Lucky Too out of Madeira Beach. Call (727) 397-8815.

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.