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Blue Water Bite Is Cranking Up

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 22, 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.

Blue water fishing is really getting cranked up. Those making the long, long runs to the west to places like "The Steps" and the "Box" are being rewarded with big dolphin, wahoo, yellowfin and blackfin tuna, sailfish, swordfish and blue and white marlin.

These trips take a lot of planning and preparation and aren't for the faint of heart. But if you have the boat and the means to fill the tanks, now is the time to make the run.

If you are planning a blue water trip, make sure you get a Roffer's report or something similar. These reports take out a lot of the guesswork as to where the fish are by showing you sea surface temperature breaks, current rips and eddies, and so on. Considering fuel prices, these reports are a must.

Closer to shore, red grouper, red snapper, dolphin and amberjack are keeping rods bent and anglers happy. Red grouper continue to be very active in 90 to 120 feet. Red snapper continue to chew as well, but the bite has been from 130 feet and out.

As for dolphin, they're liable to show up just about anywhere at any time. Wrecks from 90 feet and out are still holding good numbers of hungry amberjack.

The gag grouper bite continues to be hit or miss. One day they are chewing, then you can't find a single keeper for the next couple days.

Captain Randy Rochelle runs the "Gotta Go" out of St. Pete and can be reached at

www.islandercharters.net

or (727) 365-3218.

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