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Warm gulf lures kingsBy ED WALKER © St. Petersburg Times, published April 3, 1998 The big news is kingfish. They are thick. Catches have been reported all over, but the largest concentrations have been off Clearwater in 25-40 feet of water. Kings of all sizes are being caught on live bait and artificials. Charter boats out of Clearwater Marina have been hitting limits nearly every day trolling spoons and plugs. Live baiters also have been scoring in the same area, although bait has been somewhat hard to come by. Live bait allows anglers to fish lighter tackle. Since there are so many fish, now is the time to try those light rods. We fished 10-pound tackle all week and caught lots of kings up to 20 pounds. The highlight was a 50-pound king Jack Packard caught Tuesday on a 10-pound outfit. The same tackle also produced a barracuda and a 46-pound cobia Wednesday. To locate bait, watch for birds offshore in 20 or more feet of water and jig Sabiki rigs. If there are no birds, use a depth recorder to indicate deep bait pods. Some have cast netting bait before daylight around lighted bridges, but most good bait has been offshore. Spanish mackerel also are putting in a strong showing offshore and inshore. Trout fisherman have reported macks tearing up shad-tail jigs over deeper grassflats. The family pier at Fort De Soto always has been a great place to catch mackerel, and now is prime time. For flats action, Tampa Bay has been the best bet. Bait there has been plentiful and snook and redfish action strong. Capt. Ernie Rubio reports plenty of fish and very few anglers in upper Tampa Bay. He has been finding large schools of redfish, some reportedly holding several hundred fish, in shallow water along mangrove shorelines. Snook have been gathered in deeper holes at low tide and under the mangroves at high tide. Whether you like shallow water or deep-sea action, there should be a fish to put a bend in your pole this weekend.
CALENDAR FishingTODAY: Fly-fishing clinic on fly-tying, 6:30 p.m., Bill Jackson's, U.S. 19 N; (813) 576-4169.TODAY-SUNDAY: Fourth annual Mercury Outboards Suncoast Kingfish Classic, Sarasota Quay, Sarasota. Captain's meeting 7 tonight. Call Treasure Island Charities, 363-0071 SATURDAY: Fly-fishing clinic on casting, 10 a.m., Bill Jackson's, U.S. 19 N; (813) 576-4169.SATURDAY: Holmes Beach Marina Inshore Mania, Saltwater Flats Fishing Association; (941) 379-4446. SATURDAY: Speckled Trout Flats Tournament, Billy's Stone Crab & Steakhouse, Tierra Verde. Register 5-9 p.m. today; (813) 866-2115.SATURDAY: Fishing is for everyone fund-raiser, Derby Lake, Lakeland. Call Greg Carlson at 538-9567 or 539-0261, or TDD 538-8949.SATURDAY: Guys & Dolls Couples Tournament, St. John's River, Crystal Cove Marina; (770) 463-4652.SATURDAY: Tampa Bay Fly-Fishing Club annual banquet with speaker Mel Kreiger, 6 p.m., University Club, Tampa. Call Jeff Abeles at (813) 961-0097.SUNDAY: Tampa Pro Bass tournament, Lake Istokpoga, out of the U.S. 98 county ramp; 789-0525.Boating TODAY-SATURDAY: Alter Cup Catamaran Championships, St. Petersburg Yacht Club; (822-3873).TODAY-SUNDAY: Hunter Cup Regatta, Bradenton Yacht Club; (813) 392-1378. SATURDAY-SUNDAY: Beginning sailing -- Flying Juniors class, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Eckerd College; 864-8288 to register.SATURDAY-SUNDAY: Intermediate sailing class, 2-5 p.m., Eckerd College; 864-8288 to register.SATURDAY-MONDAY: 12-hour Boater Education Course, 6-10 p.m., St. Petersburg Junior College Allstate Center, St. Petersburg; 341-4451 or 341-4459. Looking ahead-- See Sunday's Outdoors for a complete listing of next week's events. Send information to Outdoors, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731. All items must be typed and arrive 10 days before the event. Include event name, time, address and phone number. 
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f you have been waiting for a favorable report to encourage you to get out on the water, here it is. The gulf temperature has moved into the 70s and spring is in full swing. Inshore and offshore fishing have been outstanding this week and, with continued good weather, should remain so for some time.
