| Home |
|
Gone
fishing Capt. Larry Blue |
|
|
|
2/1/2007 |
|
Fishing Archives |
|
Our record good
weather and bluebird days have given way almost overnight |
|
|
|
to hard blowing winds coming off the
Gulf of Mexico . Cold fronts moving down out |
| |
|
of northwest Canada have been
pushing the chilling air south. Those visiting from the |
| |
|
North don’t need to be reminded
that it is winter, even in sunny Florida . While we |
| |
|
might not be dealing with a foot
of snow, or a boot full of slush, it still has been windy |
| |
|
and much cooler than it has been
so far this winter. But, don’t let that stop you from |
| |
|
enjoying some of the best fishing
anywhere in the world. |
| |
|
|
| |
|
When the winds turn to
blow out of the east, near-shore fishing has provided |
| |
|
us with nice catches of silver
trout and some whiting mixed in. We have even been |
| |
|
catching a few bluefish and now
and then a hard strike with an immediate limp line |
| |
|
usually means a cut-off from a
Spanish mackerel. This mix of fish is less than a half |
|
|
|
mile from the beach, making a
long rough ride offshore unnecessary. Want a great |
|
|
|
way to introduce kids to
fishing? If you are fielding ideas for activities for the |
| |
|
grandkids, this is it. Productive
light-tackle fishing and cooperative fish, who could |
| |
|
ask for more? |
| |
|
|
| |
|
When we have a break from
the blasting winds offshore bottom fishing is a |
| |
|
good bet. The grouper bite had
been on the upswing before the weather change. I |
| |
|
expect it to continue as long as
the water temperature doesn’t plummet. If the temps |
| |
|
drop below the upper 50’s you
might have to be very patient with the fish. They |
| |
|
won’t be very active but they
will be hungry. When conditions such as that exist, we . |
| |
|
use cut bait and leave the live
bait in the livewell. Squid along with a cut piece of |
| |
|
sardine make for a combo that the
fish can smell and can’t resist. Let your bait sit on |
| |
|
the bottom over a rock pile and
hang on and hope for the best. Just sit still and wait, |
| |
|
they will come. |
| |
|
|
| |
|
For the past month the
king mackerel have been hanging out over some of |
| |
|
the wrecks and most of the
offshore reefs. If targeting this fish, trolling is the best
|
| |
|
method as you cover a lot of
ground. The kings have been located around bait |
| |
|
schools near the wreck. While
bottom fishing it is a good idea to have a live bait free- |
| |
|
lined off the stern of the boat
for a passing kingfish. You should also watch for the |
| |
|
occasional cobia under the boat.
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
If you want to try for a
fish that wear most anglers out, amberjack is your |
| |
|
quarry. We have found a fair
sized school of jacks on a couple of the wrecks |
|
|
|
offshore. They are balling up
over the wreck chasing bait that happen to pass by. |
| |
|
One method to catch them is to
drag a Bomber or Mirrolure past their position. One |
| |
|
word of warning, you better “Eat
your Wheaties!” before you attempt to take on one |
| |
|
of these bruisers. |
| |
|
|
| |
|
Good luck and good fishing, Capt.
Larry |
| |
|
Copyright 2007 CLB |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
Capt. Larry Blue is
USCG
licensed full time charter boat operator and guide, |
| |
|
departing from The Kingfish Dock,
at “Gators on the Pass”, in
Johns
Pass - |
| |
|
Treasure Island . He is a member
of; The Maritime Consortium, The Florida |
| |
|
League of Anglers and The
Florida
Outdoors Writers Assn. For charter |
| |
|
information call:
727-397-3773
or 727-871-1058
cell OR |
| |
|
Capt. Joe:
727-678-2959. |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
