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Grouper Are Chewing, Kings Still Around

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By RANDY ROCHELLE

Published: November 10, 2008

Fuel prices are at a two-year low and fish are moving closer to shore, making now the perfect time to head offshore. All we need now are a couple of days of nice weather.

Gag grouper continue to push closer to shore with each passing front. Ledges and rock piles in 30 to 70 feet from Sarasota northward that have been devoid of gags are now holding fish.

Keep a couple of things in mind when looking for gags. Key in on small 1- to 3-foot ledges and you won't always see the gags on your depth finder as they may be holding under the structure. You'll still want to take along a good mix of frozen and live bait.

Red grouper may not be moving closer to shore but you can bet they'll be chewing unless the tide is completely slack. For red grouper target areas of hard bottom and ledges in 80 to 120 feet from Tarpon Springs southward.

As of now you can only keep one per person, so make them your first target, get your limit and then go search for other targets.

The kings are still running. However, the school have thinned out a bit. Hot areas for kings have been the Egmont Channel, the Peaks and the South County Reef.

Watch for birds and schools of bait fish.

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

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