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Red Snapper Are Chewing

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 10, 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.

Red snapper season finally has opened and they are chewing. Limits of these tasty fish are easy to catch; the hard part is throwing back all the snapper after catching your limits. One thing I have to really stress is venting the snapper before you release them just as you would a grouper.

The pipe has been producing some decent red snapper from 100 feet out. The further out you travel, the bigger snapper you will find. Inside of 130 feet, most of the fish will be 20 inches or less. Out deeper I've gotten reports of some fish in the15- to 18-pound class.

The gag grouper bite has slowed a bit as many of the fish have started making their way to deeper water. They are scattered; you will catch a couple here and a couple there. Red grouper are chewing and should continue to do so through summer. The hot bite has been in 100 to 140 feet.

In case you haven't heard, there have been a number of wahoo caught in the Gulf lately. Kelly McClung and crew caught three on two recent trips without targeting them and had another couple of cut-offs.

Two came on live bait dropped to the bottom for grouper, and the other hit a flat-line Spanish sardine. The fish have ranged from 30 to 45 pounds. They where taken either near or on the pipe line.

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

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