Captain's corner

By GARY FOLDEN

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 22, 2000

A flood of small juvenile-scaled sardines and threadfin herring has invaded the Clearwater area. These minnows are only several inches long. They are on the reefs, along the beaches and bridges and in Clearwater Bay.

The bait on the reefs in the gulf have attracted Spanish mackerel and grouper are gorging on the tiny minnows. The schools of sardines and threadfins moving along the beaches and in the passes will draw the mackerel into range for the shore-bound angler. The bait has tremendous growth rate and should maintain good fishing for the Clearwaterarea. And remember the new minimum length for black and gag grouper is 22 inches. Red grouper is 20 and all jewfish must be released regardless of size.

Gary Folden charters the Strike Zone out of Clearwater Municipal Marina. Call (727) 585-8544

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