Captain's corner

By JAY MASTRY

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 21, 2000

Heading out at midnight on the full moon, we anchored about two casts from shore near Longboat Key in an area I'd seen traveling fish roll the day before.

Hearing fish roll and making out their silhouettes in the moonlight let us know we were in the right spot. Ten minutes after casting our last shad and chumming all around our boat, a pole folded and Therese Mattioll was hooked up with the first of six tarpon we jumped, and five we caught and released during the next 31/2 hours.

On the gulf at night, don't hesitate to hug the beach. Silverkings seek the security of the shoreline when traveling at night.

Depending on the stretch of beach, I'll anchor in 12 to 15 feet, but if my inside rods are getting action, I'll move in even tighter.

Often, after daybreak, the tendency is for the flow to move farther off the beach. Sometimes it's as subtle as a cast or two. Not making that adjustment could be the difference between a productive day or one in which you do little more than feed the crabs.

Get a Loran or GPS reading where you are anchored at night. If that one you are looking for comes along and drags you three miles offshore, it will make finding your anchor jug a lot easier when you come back.

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

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