Captain's corner

By LARRY HOFFMAN

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 9, 2000

The middle of the summer fishing season is my favorite time. Weather patterns are predictable, which allows fishermen to safely run offshore 50 to 70 miles. The regular afternoon sea breeze does not affect the water offshore.

Tuna, wahoo and dolphin fishing are at their best, and during a full moon the tides are stronger, resulting in good weed lines.

We troll five lines of about 7.5 to 8.5 knots of speed and fish near weed lines, floating jetsam and tide rips. Once you locate a weed line, troll both sides and change lures a few times to see if fish strike your baits. Yellow and green skirted ballyhoo works on dolphin, and black and purple tuna and wahoo lures produce our best results.

A strategy that produces big fish for us -- we locate little, isolated rain showers that aren't producing "lightning" and troll in and around the edges of the rain. Two things happen when fishing in the rain: You cool off, and the rain action on the water makes your lures look more natural.

Grouper fishing is still hot in 70-85 feet of water over cheese rock bottom. Amberjacks are feeding over most offshore wrecks and springs in 100-140 feet of water. Mangrove snapper will be feeding strong at night during the full moon.

- Larry "Huffy" Hoffman charters the Enterprise out of Kingfish Wharf, Treasure Island. Call (727) 430-3474.

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