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Get Your Gags While You Still Can

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By RANDY ROCHELLE

Published: January 26, 2009

The gag grouper season closes on Sunday. The weather looks good until Friday, when our next front is scheduled to blow through.

Kelly McClung and crew managed a limit of red and gag grouper fishing in 65 to 80 feet of water due west of Clearwater. The bite started off good and then died. McClung felt that the fish were there so they sat tight for an hour or so and, sure enough, they started chewing again. Having the patience to sit and wait for the fish to turn on can make all the difference this time of year.

Further to the west, the bite has been a little better. The red grouper bite in 120 to 140 feet has been good. You'll find most of the fish fall in the 6- to 12-pound range with an occasional bigger fish. Be sure to take along a lot of cut bait as live bait has been a bit hard to come by.

I'm still getting a few reports from folks running into kingfish. They're not very big fish but catching a kingfish this time of year is always a welcome surprise. Trolling hardware has been the most productive method as the fish are scattered out. It's still always worth the effort to deploy a flat line when bottom fishing as you never know what will show up.

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

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