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Once Again, Cold Fronts Keep Offshore Anglers Dockside

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By RANDY ROCHELLE

Published: January 12, 2009

Back-to-back cold fronts this week will make getting offshore tough. According to the offshore marine forecast, Thursday might be your only shot at getting offshore until next week. If you do get offshore, dress accordingly, as it will be on the chilly side.

For those fishing off of Tarpon Springs and Clearwater, you can expect to find a good gag grouper bite. Most of the fish are being taken in the 50- to 80-foot range, although a few keepers are still being caught in closer.

Offshore wrecks and springs are holding good numbers of amberjack. Most of the fish are in the 15- to 25-pound class, although there have been a few bigger fish mixed in.

Live bait has been producing well, but jigs will work if live bait proves hard to find. Best bet for live bait has been around the 30- to 40-foot range around reefs ands and areas of hard live bottom.

When fishing the deeper wrecks, have a rod rigged with no weight so if a cobia shows up, you're ready to toss out a live bait. Last week we boxed a 45-pound cobia that followed a hooked amberjack to the surface.

Anglers targeting red grouper have found good numbers of decent size fish in 80 to 120 feet. Areas of hard bottom wouthwest of the Whistler Buoy have been holding good numbers of keeper fish in the 6- to 12-pound class.

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.

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