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By GARY FOLDEN
© St. Petersburg Times, published May 20, 2001
Last call for kingfish. The water temperature is climbing into the upper 70s and that sends kingfish migrating northward. The last push of kings may be off Clearwater right now. On charters last week, we were surprised to still catch kings. Many needed to be measured for the 24-inch minimum. The Spanish mackerel we caught were large, with some exceeding 5 pounds. If blackfin tuna are your target, be prepared to check out shrimp boats as tuna seem scarce. The shrimpers are 20 to 40 miles off the coast.
The best gag grouper fishing is in 60 feet of water on out. Red grouper fishing appears to be getting off to a slow start.
Trout fishing has been good from Clearwater to Honeymoon Island. Look for the fish to be on the sea-grass areas. Daytime fishing for snook and redfish has been slow and probably will remain so until more bait fish enter the area.
- Capt. Gary Folden charters out of Clearwater and can be reached at (727) 585-8544 or by e-mail at jcgfolden@mindspring.com.