What a gorgeous day on the water... perfect temperature, light winds and no seas.

It had been awhile so we didn't even know where we'd be finding bait but we'd read a couple of reports of schoolies in the neighborhood so we had to give it a try even though the time of year and water temperature didn't make sense for kings.

Talked to Larry at Mastry's on Saturday and he said that he'd read and heard the same reports but was more than a bit skeptical and suggested I get some squid and sardines to hit the bottom while we were out there so we might bring something home.

Tried our usual haunts for bait... north skyway, the tower along the shipping channel off the skyway, the can out of southwest pass... and nothing. Well, actually a few white bait and a few pins/squirrels but not enough for any serious fishing. As we were trying to figure out where to go from there we saw a pod on the depth finder near the Ft. Desoto pier and were able get a decent number in the well with a couple of tosses.

Went out to some hard bottom in about 40' foot south of the shipping channel and were slow trolling three lines (short, long and one on a down rigger) but nothing was going on. Figured we might as well try to chum some up as opposed to trying a different area so we anchored up and tossed out a chum block.

Left a couple of white baits on flat lines and had a nice chum slick going but no kings and no mackerel. Started dropping sardines to the bottom and immeditately started slamming short grouper and that kept up all morning. Most were 15"-19", no keepers but steady action for as long as we wanted it.

I decided I was going to get a few grunts, and did, by switching to squid... Ron decided to try a Doc's Goofy Jig (tipped with squid) out there and just hammered the trigger fish. I guess he caught 7-10 and got 4 or 5 in the box.

When it came time to go, around 12:30, I was reeling in the last line when it got hit... the first and only mackerel of the day. It was about 16", but as skinny as I'd seen one, so we let it go figuring he'd be better the next time with some food under his belt.

Had a great day, with great people... Nick's boat is about the smoothest riding vessel I've been in awhile, caught a bunch of fish... but alas, it looks like we're still at least a couple of degrees (maybe a few, it was 64^o) and a few days or a couple of weeks away from the kings action.

So I get a call from Barfly and he says they saw a huge school of huge drum near the Skyway moving toward Gandy. Hooked up with a bunch and landed one. (attached image)

So, how big is this fish? He only had a cell phone image. 

(john-drum.jpg)

john-drum.jpg (27KB - 121 downloads)