Strong winds this week may keep you off the water, but once the water cleans up a bit after Ida moves through, we should be set for plenty of action on kingfish, grouper and mackerel.
With the water temperature dropping I would expect the kingfish bite to slow down a bit, but there still should be plenty around for the rest of the month.
Best bite has been at artificial reefs 3 to 10 miles off shore. Finding that magical 72-degree water temperature will give you the best chance at catching a lot of kingfish.
Groupers are definitely shallower than they were a month ago.
Plenty of fish can be found around 40- to 60-feet of water on any ledge you can find.
Big pinfish would be a great choice for bait, but also be sure to bring along plenty of frozen sardines. Inshore grouper fishing has also been good around the ship channel inside the bay.
Trolling will be your best bet on locating fish. Lipped divers like Mann’s Stretch 25 and No. 3 planers with a 4-ounce buck tail jig will produce plenty of fish, but dropping down a frisky pinfish might produce some bigger gags.
Inshore fishing has been a bit off with all of the wind keeping the water out of the bays. But one highlight this past week was schools of mackerel feeding on glass minnows near the passes.
Now this activity is easily spotted by finding the small white birds (terns) dipping and diving near the surface of the water.
Anchoring around the feeding zone and live chumming with small pilchards can lead to nonstop action until you run out of bait.
Using a long shank hook with a 30 pound leader will help prevent cut off and will give you a chance at more bites as opposed to using wire.
Until next week ... get bent.
Capt. Wallerstein can be reached at capt.tyson@hotmail.com. To get a fish photo in the paper, send the photo along with your name, when and where it was caught to editorial@TBNweekly.com or mail it to Tampa Bay Newspapers, 9911 Seminole Blvd., Seminole, FL 33772.
