Captain’s Corner for May 13 Dave Zalewski 460-9893

Kingfish still remain one of our daily targets. The water temperatures and vast quantities of bait that have arrived offshore are the key ingredients for the extended time that they have remained off our coast. The most consistent area that we have targeted has been the shipping channel from markers 5 and 6 westward.
Spanish sardines, hardtails, and blue runners concentrate near the markers and can be seen on the surface or as a cloud on the bottom machine when they are not visible. Baitfish, like their predators, have fins and tails and move from refuge to refuge. If the baitfish are not present at the first set of markers that we start at, we do not waste precious time trolling live bait or hardware in the vicinity but move to another set until we find one that is holding bait.
An often overlooked kingfish spot is the natural gas pipeline that runs about a mile south of the shipping channel. There are several large rock piles on and near the pipeline that often hold bait and fish. Many times, especially on the weekends when boat traffic is heavy, these spots have few boats on them and provide an alternative to fighting the crowds.
Bottom fishing for red grouper, mangrove snapper ,white grunts, and sea bass has been excellent in the 60 foot depths. The clear water has necessitated downsizing both leader and sinker size to produce the most activity. A 2 or 3 ounce knocker rig coupled with a 4/0 circle hook has proven the best for us for the past several weeks.