Hurricane Gordon made a close pass and stirred up the gulf. The dirty water slowed the grouper bite for a couple weeks, but the water has cleared and the bite is back on.

During a recent trip, we found some nice gags holding on 1- to 3-foot ledges in 65 to 80 feet of water.

Live pinfish were the key to catching the bigger fish, but frozen sardines also produced some nice fish.

The grouper bite is good, but the snapper bite has been incredible. We found snapper on almost every ledge we fished in 50 to 80 feet along with a mixed bag of other bottom fish.

The key to catching the snapper was downsizing our tackle. Use 20-pound spinning tackle and tie a No. 5 barrel swivel to the main line with a three-quarter-ounce to 2-ounce slip sinker above the swivel. Tie a 3- to 4-foot length of 20- to 30-pound leader to the swivel and attach a 3/0 live bait hook to the other end.

Using the tail section of a frozen sardine torn in half produced some snapper, but 2- to 3-inch live white bait were being inhaled before they hit the bottom.

Live white bait can be netted along most grass beds in 3 to 5 feet of water. Just anchor on a sandy area on the edge of a grass bed, throw out some chum and you should be able to net all the live bait you'll need for the day.

If you can find a calm day, get out and catch some snapper.

- Randy Rochelle runs Islander Charters in St. Petersburg. Call (727) 528-1213.

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