TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Cold Fronts Take A Bite Out Of Fishing.

ADVERTISEMENT

By RANDY ROCHELLE

Published: December 1, 2008

One cold front after another continues to hamper offshore anglers.

As if the winds weren't bad enough, Gulf water temperatures have dropped into the upper 60s and are still dropping. If you're planning an offshore trip, Thursday appears to be the day, as another front approaches on Friday.

The hot grouper is still in close. Kelly McClung along with his brother Britt ran out Friday and managed a quick limit of gag grouper in only 35 feet of water.

Fishing a couple of small breaks off Clearwater, they dropped a mix of frozen and cut bait. Kelly stated that the frozen bait got them chewing, but it was the hand-sized pinfish that put the keepers on ice.

Out deeper, the red grouper bite remains very consistent in the 80- to 110-foot range. Both ledges and areas of cheese bottom are producing some decent-sized fish.

You will find the red grouper aren't nearly as picky as the gags, as most of the time they will devour just about any bait dropped in front of them. You can also expect to find a decent mangrove snapper bite on ledges and around wrecks in this same depth.

The offshore bite has been hot but will cool as Gulf water temperatures continue to drop. As waters cool, you will have to push further west to find active fish.

Captain Randy Rochelle runs the "Gotta Go" out of St. Petersburg, and can be reached at (727) 365-3218 or go to www.islandercharters.net.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT