Rough Weather Keeps Offshore Anglers Close To Shore

By RANDY ROCHELLE
Posted November 17, 2008 by The Tampa Tribune

Once again Mother Nature has proven that she can curtail the offshore fishing effort as well as any governing body. The past week was just about a blowout with the exception of Thursday. We fished a number of spots and managed a nice mixed box of grouper, snapper, jacks and other assorted bottom fish. The best grouper bite was in 60 to 75 feet fishing small breaks just southwest of the Whistler Buoy. Flat lines produced nothing in the way of kingfish and only a couple of bonito. The gag grouper bite due west of Tarpon Springs continue to make headlines. Fish in the 5- to 15-pound range are common with an occasional fish pushing the 20-pound mark.

The mangrove snapper bite remains strong with wrecks, rockpiles and ledges producing fish from 2 to 8 pounds. Small pinfish and white bait matched with light tackle is the key to boxing some quality mangrove snapper.

Closer to shore hungry schools of mackerel are keeping anglers busy. Trolling small spoons behind No. 1 planners has been very effective as has anchoring and chumming.

Trolling the Ship Channel both inside and outside of the Skyway has been producing some decent catches of gag grouper. Vance Tice and crew managed five keepers out of 11 fish last week. The key is fishing at the beginning and end of either the incoming or outgoing tide.

Captain Randy Rochelle runs the “Gotta Go” out of St. Petersburg and can be reached at (727) 365-3218 or www.islandercharters.net.