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Fish Tales
A calm forecast has kingfish anglers salivating
By CAPT. TYSON WALLERSTEIN
Article published on Thursday, April 5, 2007 |
A weak cold front this week should only progress our fishing further. As the bait flushes into our near shore waters, these small fronts will continue to bring new arrivals of baitfish and predators alike.
This in turn should bring some of those bigger kingfish close to the beach and give anglers a shot at some “smokers.”
Kingfish remain the top target for many anglers as the spring run kicked into high gear this week. As long as the water stays clean the bulk of these fish will be found within 10 miles of the beach, making them a prime target for both big and small boaters alike.
Bruiser-sized kings should be pursued with big live baits: mullet, Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and shad. Slow troll these baits close to the beaches or around near-shore hot spots like the Clearwater hard bottom, the drop at Blind Pass and the ditch at Egmont Key.
Schoolie-sized kings can provide fast action once located. Places like the Betty Rose, Rube Allyn and the Indian Shores artificial reefs are all holding kingfish. Plenty of bait, such as cigar minnows and horse minnows can be found hanging on these reefs as well.
Anchoring uptide of the reef and putting out a chum block is a great way to attract the bait and the kingfish. Be sure to have a couple of rods rigged with live bait stinger rigs and as you catch your bait, quickly put them out on flat lines.
Snook fishing has been great lately with the warm water temperatures. Live baiters have been finding plenty of whitebait along the pass jetties and the bridge lights at night.
Catching enough bait so that you can throw a couple of freebies out for chum can make the difference in getting the fish fired up to feed. Mangrove shorelines near passes and deep water will hold lots of fish on those afternoon high tides. Check out potholes along the outside edges of the flats on the low incoming tide.
Nocturnal snookers will cash in on the red eye incoming tide. Lights around passes such as John’s Pass, Blind Pass and Pass-A-Grille are holding lots of snook. Free-lined shrimp and artificial lures like the Yo-zuri 3-d minnow have been the ticket to hooking up.
Pompano have also made their presence felt lately. Places like Pass-A-Grille and the Fort De Soto Park Gulf Pier have been very consistent for good sized pompano.
Definitely get out there and catch some Spanish mackerel. It’s been red hot at the Skyway piers, Redington Long Pier and the De Soto piers. Spoons and Gotcha plugs will bring all the action you need.
Until next week – GET BENT!
Tyson Wallerstein can be reached at capt.tyson@hotmail.com. If you have a fish picture you would like to see published in the newspaper, send it with your name and where it was caught, to: “Fish Tales,” Tampa Bay Newspapers, 9911 Seminole Blvd., Seminole, FL 33772, or e-mail it to editorial@TBNweekly.com.
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Article published on Thursday, April 5, 2007
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Tampa Bay Newspapers
9911 Seminole Blvd.
Seminole, FL 33772
(727) 397-5563
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