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The Macks Are Back

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 13, 2007

GO FISHING is a daily look at the area fishing scene through the eyes of local charter boat captains and fishing guides. Today: Mel Berman.

The annual migration of Spanish and king mackerel off area beaches has begun, Captain Brent Gaskill said.

'Working the perimeter of bait pods or anchoring over hard bottom and chumming brings the fish right to your transom. They can be played using light tackle with live bait, spoons, jigs or flies,' he said.

And, as area temperatures drop, expect mackerel numbers to increase.

These days, when flats fishing for trout is slow, there are virtually millions of juvenile grouper to take up the slack. Fishing off Dunedin Causeway this week, I caught and released numerous frisky newborn gags, some so small they looked like they had just been hatched.

Certainly, these baby gags should be carefully released so that they can grow up and become the husky Gulf lunkers we all enjoy catching.

Snook, still in packs near the beaches, seem more intent on feeding at night or on tide changes, according to kayak guide Neil Taylor. Many redfish - too big to keep but fun to catch - have been available along mangrove-lined spoil and barrier islands.

Taylor caught a large cobia there estimated to be about 25 pounds. Many cobia also are showing up in the waters around the Skyway bridge.

Hear 'The Captain Mel Show' Saturdays from 6-9 a.m. on WFLA, 970 AM. Also, visit

'Fishing Florida OnLine

Magazine' at capmel.com.

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