Hot weather brings glut of choices

By RICK FRAZIER

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 9, 2000

It's not summer, technically. But judging by the water temperature and the fishing patterns, it is. There's plenty on the menu even with the heat, so let's get going.

Break out your topwater plugs and slurp them around mangrove shorelines at first light for redfish. Look for points, oyster bars and drop-offs that have plenty of current for best results. As the sun starts to cast shadows, go to the gold spoon. If you like to chase reds with live bait, net small pinfish and use them with a cork. The float will keep the pins from hiding in the grass. Whitebait will work too, but with warmer water on the flats now, the pins will live longer.

Catch-and-release snook action is good along the beach swash channel and in the gulf passes. Evening outgoing tide is best. Grunts, ladyfish, threadfins and whitebait are choice baits. Rig stout, otherwise these fish will take you to the cleaners. Heavier tackle also increases the chances of releasing the fish unharmed.

Tarpon action is at its peak. Try the bay bridges, along the beaches and in the backwater areas. How you chase them will dictate which bait to use. Early morning along the beach it's hard to beat a pinfish under a cork or a fresh shad on the bottom. Cast in front of the school and let the fish come to the bait. Ideally, you want to have your offering waiting for the fish to see it when the fish comes up to roll. At the bridges, free-lined threadfins are tops when the current is moving. During the slack tide, drop a shad on the bottom. For those backwater silver kings, big whitebait are best and pins work well, too. Just remember to free-line your offerings.

Grouper action is good starting at about 40 feet. Work your way out if necessary. There are plenty of bait pods over the artificial reefs and along the beaches, so use a gold-hook rig and catch plenty of fresh sardines. Kingfish are still out there, too, so while you're bottom fishing for grouper, lay out a flat line with a stinger rig. Another reason to catch a few sardines.

Far out, amberjack and mangrove snapper action is hot. For amberjacks, live blue runners are hard to beat unless you have spadefish or anglefish for bait. Snapper love live shrimp, and they won't hesitate to take one or two off your hands, especially if you're slow setting the hook. If possible, use fluorocarbon leader. It's harder for snapper to see. Most "mangies" weigh 2 pounds or more, so rig accordingly.

Rick Frazier runs Lucky Dawg Charters in St. Petersburg. Call (727) 448-3817.

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Outdoors

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