TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Looking For Dolphin? Seek Grass

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 8, 2008

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

Since my last column a couple of things have changed: The winds have really laid down and the mangrove snapper bite has picked up a bit.

While the mangrove snapper bite isn't where it should be this time of year, it at least is improving. The hot area has been around the Pipe Line and on ledges in 40 to 80 feet.

I've talked with some divers and most agree that while there is a lack of large fish, there are tons of small snapper around.

Gag grouper also remain elusive. There are some to be found but overall the bite remains slow.

Limits of red grouper are easily reached for those fishing areas of hard bottom in 90 to 140 feet. It also seems that many of the areas that are holding red grouper are holding good numbers of red snapper.

The dolphin bite has been red hot during the last couple of weeks. This is largely due to an influx of sargassum grass. The light winds have pushed large mats into lines that at times have been a mile or so long.

Trolling the edges of these lines has produced really decent numbers of schoolie-size dolphin along with an occasional bigger fish. The biggest I've heard of is a 27-pound bull taken off a grass line in 110 feet of water.

If you're heading offshore, be sure to take along a couple of small trolling plugs just in case you see a nice grass line.

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

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT