The fall migration is in full swing for the Gulf Coast. There are kingfish on the beaches, grouper and snapper on hard bottom in 40 feet of water andhordes of Spanish mackerel. Bait is abundant and everything is feeding on it.

Slow trolling live frisky baits like blue runners, cigar minnows and threadfin, nose hooked with a stinger rig should produce all the action you want. Troll around large pods of bait not through them. Predatory fish are looking for fish that have strayed from the main pod and that is how you should present your bait.

Inshore, the bite has been on as well. Trout fishing is the best I've seen in years. The grass flats inside the Skyway bridge are holding lots of large fish. They are feeding readily on both artificial and live baits. The water is clean and clear so downsize your tackle and you will get more bites.

Cooler weather, calm water, lots of bait and lots of fish, there's no better time than right now to be fishing.

- Dan Brooks charters out of St. Petersburg. Call (727) 867-7856 or e-mail wildd1@gte.net.

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Captain's Corner

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