Captain’s Corner for October 29 Dave Zalewski 397-8815

Water temperatures have declined to the magical mid 70’s offshore and we are in the midst of the fall transitional fishing which is proving to be exceptional. Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and ladyfish can be found as close as 100 yards of any of our beaches crashing into bait schools ranging in size from small anchovies to blue runners. Loner smoker kingfish and numerous sharks of all species complete the food chain feeding on the smaller predators. The Spanish mackerel action for those trolling small spoons or plugs can be non-stop. Those slow trolling stinger rigged mackerel, bluefish or ladyfish will not experience the continuous action, but when a strike occurs it certainly will be memorable. Trolling speed for the mackerel should be 6 knots and those seeking the apex predators should troll as slow as they can go or even drift with the wind and tide.
Barracuda fishing is as good as it gets with these spectacular game fish feeding heavily in anticipation of the long winter ahead and their migration to warmer waters. Large spoons and jointed plugs trolled over artificial reefs and offshore wrecks will produce drag screaming strikes, but the best bet is to slow troll large blue runners. Kingfish have also arrived on the high profile structures in the gulf and can be caught by employing the same methods.
Gag grouper are still open and targeting them by trolling is a both exciting and productive. We employ #3 planers in front of blue or gold plugs, 40 feet of 60# test leader and troll at 4.5 to 5 knots over hard bottom areas in 25 to 35 feet of water.