Gathering bait is a time-honored tradition of fishing. For those going on an offshore trip, gathering bait usually means going to a baithouse and paying for frozen boxes of sardines, squid, and chum. As an extra precaution it usually pays to cast net some pinfish or gold hook a few dozen threadfins on your way out. The logic is: by having a variety of bait, you will have something to interest the most finicky fish.

On recent trips we have fished chub on the surface, free-lined for dolphin, and on the bottom the grouper and mangrove snapper inhaled them. The chubs were outfishing all other baits two to one. The chub is easily caught on most bay area tidal flats on the shallow edges with a cast net. They are hardy and will last all day in your live well. Lip hooking with with a 2/0 hook is an excellent approach.

The recent calm seas and lack of offshore storms has allowed long runs to the deep. Amberjack, gag and red grouper continue to bite well. The deeper waters will have lower water temperature at the bottom than the more closer in spots. If you make a long run be sure to study the weather and bring your smorgasbord of bait.

-- Tom Turke charters The Mixed Bag out of St. Petersburg. Call (813) 854-5779.

Back to Sports

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright

From the Times sports desk

College football
FSU loses top receiver/backup QB Boldin

College football around the state

Motorsports
NASCAR to break its safety silence

Childress dumps Skinner for 2002

Bucs
Keyshawn is still waiting for the ball

Todd Washington is front and center

Former Bucs DB Colzie dies

Golf
Azinger returns to Ryder Cup

Devil Rays
Kids help McRae keep energy high

Top pick skips class as sides keep negotiating

Saying goodbye to Cal

Up next: Orioles

Outdoors
Daily fishing report

Preps
Jesuit tops Zephyrhills in opener

TBT grad going back to his future

From the wire

From the state sports wire Jacksonville's Spicer placed on IR after leg surgery
FIU-Western Kentucky game postponed because of Jeanne
Brown anxious to face old team for first time
Dolphins' desperate defense readies for Roethlisberger
Former Sarasota lineman sheds tough-guy image with Michigan
Rothstein rejoins Heat as assistant
No. 16 Florida has history on its side against Kentucky
FSU and Clemson QBs both off to slow starts