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Daily fishing report

It was bound to happen. High winds and plummeting water temperatures from the recent series of cold fronts has most likely ended one of the greatest fall kingfish runs in memory.

There still will be kings caught offshore, but the incredible nearshore action surely will taper.

Those same fronts, however, will kick-start traditional winter fishing. Silver trout will invade gulf beaches and swarm over hard bottom areas from Pass-a-Grille to Indian Rocks. Tandem-rigged jigs on light spinning tackle work well.

Sheepshead will become more abundant, and you will find them from well inside the bay to the bridges and jetties leading to area passes. Barnacles and oysters probably work best but are difficult to keep on the hook until you get the knack of it. Pieces of shrimp also work.

Mangrove snapper have lit up along the edges of the shipping channel. Whitebait is preferred but will be tougher to catch as water temperatures drop. You can buy shrimp, which also will attract black sea bass, Key West grunts and other tasty species. Some of our most memorable offshore grouper trips have been in late December and January. Pick your days wisely, and be patient. As it gets colder grouper will move inshore and be more accessible.

-- Jay Mastry charters Jaybird out of St. Petersburg. Call (727) 321-2142.

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