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Migrating mackerels will put up good fightBy MIKE MANNING © St. Petersburg Times, published November 4, 2000 The fall run of Spanish and king mackerel has begun. These fish migrate from the cooler northern waters to the warmer southern waters. Mackerel travel in large schools. It is not uncommon to catch 50-60 in just a few hours. These fish are great tackle busters that average 4-7 pounds. They make fast runs and hard pulls. You can locate Spanish mackerel from Tarpon Springs to Hernando Beach in 9-12 feet of water with grassy bottom. When fishing for mackerel use a 1/4- to 1/2-ounce brightly colored jig with a wire leader. Once you have located the fish, anchor and put out a frozen chum bag. This will attract the fish and begin a feeding frenzy. The smoking king fish are showing up on artificial reefs from Pasco to Clearwater. They are the cousins of the Spanish. The king mackerel is the super-size version of the Spanish. The king weighs 15-40 pounds. These fish are known as the "smokers" because of the effect they have on reels. You can catch king mackerel by slow trolling spoons or live bait with 15-20-pound test tackle. November offers a different way to catching a large linesider. The local rivers along the west coast offer a safe haven for snook during cooler temperatures. These rivers have small fresh springs that pump 72-degree water year round. The rivers are narrow bodies that are protected from the winds, which can drastically change the water temperatures. The best way to catch these fish is to troll the river at night with a rattling crank bait. You can use a gas or trolling motor, but troll very slow. Keep your bait close to the bottom where the snook lay. It is not unusual to snag the bottom several times, so be prepared and bring several lures. If you prefer day-time fishing, troll live freshwater shiner or a top-water twitch bait around the docks. These fish are not just in the mouth of the rivers, but they can be 4-5 miles upriver. You may catch a snook on one cast, and a large-mouth bass on the next. Lake Tarpon captain Lenny Crispino of Tarpon Tom's Bait and Tackle reports that the action is hot whether you are fishing for bass or crappie. The shinner is the ticket for catching bass regularly over 7 pounds. Slow trolling the shiner in 7-9 feet of water over grass. For the artificial fisherman, Crispino reports that the rattling crank baits and hard-body jerk baits have been producing nice bass along the bank and around points. The crappie fishing is picking up in the South end of the lake. Live Missouri minnows and black and yellow jigs are your best bet in 4-6 feet of water. Port Richey reports that the grouper fishing is picking up in 40-45 feet. The average has been 20-30 keepers per day. Port Richey has had a good catch of Keywest grunts. Most of the action has been on frozen sardines and cut bait. - Capt. Mike Manning charters out of Port Richey. He can be reached at (727) 848-0795.
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