Front cools weather, local fishing remains hot
With red tide diminishing in our waters, fishing is improving by the day — especially along the Gulf beaches and heading out to the nearshore reefs.
White bait, although starting to thin out, is available in a number of areas, on the flats and on the beach. Live shrimp are working well when white bait can’t be attained.
Targeting mangrove snapper around the nearshore reefs is quite productive. On my recent charters, we are catching limits of the tasty, hard-fighting fish. For the snapper, I’m using live shiners combined with a half-ounce knocker rig. A 2/0 circle hook, some 20-pound fluorocarbon and a 1/2-ounce egg sinker completes the rig. Live shrimp also will work, although the abundance of spot tail pinfish and Key West grunts nibbling away on the bait makes it near impossible for the snapper to get to the bait. Multiple snapper in the 16- to18-inch range are being caught with the remainder being in the 12 to 14-inch range.
Using shrimp as bait along the beaches is proving productive. I’m finding rallies of pompano eating every shrimp we cast in the water during morning incoming tides. Most of the time, this bite is lasting for about an hour. A variety of other species are included in this bite, which makes it even more exciting. Bluefish, jack crevalle, bonnethead sharks and juvenile permit are rounding out the bite. Catching the permit is extremely pleasurable. Once they are hooked, the fight can be likened to a pompano on steroids. These permit are running 5-7 pounds, which, on light tackle, is a real challenge.
Finally, beach fishing around structure such as concrete piers and sea walls is producing black drum, sheepshead and flounder. All three species are readily taking live shrimp.
Capt. Warren Girle is fishing offshore with good results. By venturing out to depths of 40-50 feet of water, Girle is finding kingfish in the 10- to 25-pound range. These fish are being found over areas of hard bottom and free-lined live shiners are attracting the bite. Mixed in with the kingfish are African pompano — a rarity in our waters, but a welcome sight just the same. Again, live shiners are attracting the bite. The average size of the African pompano being caught is 5 pounds.
While fishing nearshore structure, Girle is catching limits of mangrove snapper. The hungry snapper are taking baits on weighted rigs fished on the bottom. Sizes vary from 12-18 inches in length. Mixed in with the snapper are juvenile red grouper and plenty of grunts.
Moving inshore, Girle is working the flats of Sarasota Bay. By drifting and jigging, Girle is running across bluefish, Spanish mackerel, jack crevalle and pompano. All of these fish put up an excellent fight on light tackle and the pompano are one of the best eating fish that swim in these waters.
Capt. Aaron Lowman is running out in the Gulf of Mexico in search of tripletail. Numerous fish are being spotted and caught, although size is ranging a bit on the small side. Keeper-fish are available with some catches reaching 12 pounds. For bait, Lowman is using live shrimp fished under a popping cork.
Kingfish are available in areas where hard bottom and ledges are present. By anchoring and chumming, Lowman is attracting the kings to the boat so his clients can cast baits to them. Free-lined live shiners are producing kingfish in the 10-20 pound range.
Finally, bay fishing around structure is producing mangrove snapper, flounder and juvenile grouper for Lowman’s charters. All three species are being taken on live shiners combined with a weighted rig to keep the bait on the bottom.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier is seeing signs of winter — numerous sheepshead around the pier pilings. Pier fishers using live shrimp are catching the occasional keeper-size sheepie, although most are still running just short of 12 inches. While targeting sheepshead with shrimp, black drum, mangrove snapper and a few flounder are being reeled up from under the pier.
Spanish mackerel, jack crevalle and ladyfish are being caught at the pier by fishers using small jigs and spoons, however, the bite is sporadic at best due to the fact that the numerous schools of baitfish have moved elsewhere.
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