Captain's corner

By BROCK BLACKMORE

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 14, 2000

Last week schools of redfish were feeding well along the flats of Weedon Island, MacDill AFB and north into upper Tampa Bay. Redfish can be targeted in a variety of ways.

Lure anglers can tie on gold spoons, topwater lures, soft plastic jerkbaits or jigs. Another productive option is live bait. Nearly every grass flat in 2-5 feet of water is loaded with pinfish and small- to medium-sized whitebait.

Whatever you choose, keep a quiet, low profile. Ideally you should pole your way onto a flat with the wind and tide at your back, or better yet wade.

A key to catching redfish and other game fish is to target a lively and active grass flat. Look for schools of mullet. Redfish often are caught around these large mullet. Birds also are a sign of a productive flat, and with some scouting you should find a pattern to catching redfish consistently.

Schools of Spanish mackerel have been plentiful from the mouth of Tampa Bay northward to the Howard Frankland Bridge. The mackerel have been feeding well on small whitebait. To prevent cut-offs, attach a long shank No. 1 or 1/0 hook, attached to a 30 leader on 8 test line. A chum block will help and maybe attract a cobia or blacktip shark.

- Brock Blackmore charters out of Tampa.; (813) 831-8698 or Snookhead@aol.com

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Outdoors

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