Captains corner: Schooling redfish, Spanish mackerel easy to find right now

By Rick Frazier, Times Correspondent
In Print: Friday, October 2, 2009

Inshore: Redfish are already schooling and being caught around the morning tide change, according to Larry Mastry of Mastry's Bait and Tackle in St. Petersburg. Set up ahead of the school and let it come to you. Another technique is to quietly get within casting distance using a push pole or a trolling motor on slow. Use cut greenbacks (threadfin herring) with a 1/0 circle hook. Cast it and let it settle on the bottom. The reds' sense of smell will lead them to your offering.

Offshore: Spanish mackerel are abundant from Egmont Key north, especially around the passes, and can be caught by dragging small 0 or 00 silver spoons. Red grouper are being caught in 90 feet and even closer yet, gag in 60 feet. Remember to use cut sardines and squid first until the bite slows, then throw the live pinfish. Mangrove snapper action will be good at night during this full moon Monday.

Landlubber: Norman Ertel, who volunteers at Mastry's, grew up fishing in Gulfport and is one of the best "pluggers" around. He knows the when, where, why, and how-to for most artificials on the market today. Recently, he has been throwing a Mirrolure Mirrodine at Fort De Soto's bay pier and catching trout. He also uses a Haw River 4-inch root beer shrimp tail with an eighth-ounce jighead to catch flounder there.

Tournaments: The Hooked on Hope Inshore event benefitting breast cancer research is Oct. 9-10 out of the Holiday Inn SunSpree resort in St. Petersburg. Visit Hooked onhope.org or call (813) 967-5032.

The Old Salt Special Kids event is from 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 17 out of Fort De Soto Park. E-mail jill@stargg.com or call the Old Salt line at (727) 422-6420 for information.

The Southern Kingfish Association District 6 tournament will be Oct. 23-24 out of Gator's on the Pass in Treasure Island. Contact (727) 367-2942 for information.

The Mercury Grand Slam Celebrity tournament is Oct. 23-25 out of the Renaissance Vinoy Resort in St. Petersburg. Call (813) 269-0955 or go to www.pcfusa.org.

Rick Frazier runs Lucky Dawg Charters out of St. Petersburg and can be reached at (727) 510-4376 or by e-mail at captain rick@luckydawg.com.

Original Article