GO FISHING is a look at the area fishing scene through the eyes of local charter boat captains and fishing guides. Today: Bill Miller.
Hubbard's Marina reports great offshore fishing from their party boats out of John's Pass. Overnight trips to the Middle Grounds and The Elbow are finding no oil and lots of red snapper and gag and red grouper up to 25 pounds. Amberjack are also bending rods, along with blackfin tuna, wahoo and dolphin. The 10-hour trips are yielding good snapper, grouper and kingfish catches starting in 80 feet and working out to 120 feet.
Early morning tarpon along Siesta Key beach have been the target of captain Geoff Page. Getting there at first light, Page likes to sneak up on slow-moving tarpon and toss a silver dollar in front of the school. A 60- to 80-pound fluorocarbon leader and a 7/0 circle hook with 50-pound braided line is the proper tackle for a fun fight and a quick live release.
Tim Guidry caught his first tarpon this week fishing with dad Joe and captain Billy Miller. A live pass crab drifting under a cork fooled the 80-pound tarpon. Miller also reports good mackerel and trout fishing at the Clam Bar and Pinellas Point.
Spanish mackerel and kingfish are still along the Gulf beaches. Giant schools of threadfin herring and "pumpkin seeds" are dimpling all up and down the beach in about 12 feet of water, and the mackerel cousins are feasting on them. The baitfish can easily be caught using a Sabiki rig or a cast net. Anchoring and chumming over hard bottom or slow trolling around the bait schools will produce fast action. Wire leaders are recommended to keep cutoffs to a minimum.
Scallop season will open earlier this year. Gov. Crist has announced the season will open Saturday, adding 12 days to the season, and it will close Sept. 10.
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