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• December 2011

A mild December equals a hot bite

Posted Dec 19, 2011 by Tribune Sports

Updated Dec 19, 2011 at 07:25 PM

BY RANDY ROCHELLE

There was only one calm day out of the past 10 or so, but considering how hot the bite is, one was enough. Grouper, snapper and amberjack kept rods bent and anglers happy.

Jeff Newberg and crew made a run out to around the 115-foot mark on the Pipe and found a hot grouper and snapper bite. Unfortunately, a lot of the grouper and snapper were on the “Do Not Keep” list. They did manage a limit of red grouper up to 16-pounds and a few nice mangos. Further to the south, we hit a wreck and some areas of hard bottom in 130- to 150-feet of water and also managed a limit of nice red grouper and amberjack, along with a few mangrove and lane snapper and some nice size scamp grouper. Although we kept flat lines out most of the day, we had no takers.

For those that don’t mind a little cold water diving, word has it the hogfish are thick and they’re big. One of the hot areas has been some live bottom around rocks and breaks south of the channel in 40 to 60-feet. The hardest part has been ignoring all the gag grouper that are holding over these same areas.

Other that a few keepers here and there, mangrove snapper have been tough to come by. We did managed to catch a few off a wreck in 145-feet of water, but most got inhaled long before they reached the surface. In fact, about half of our amberjack met with the same fate.

I don’t see where any strong fronts are forecast to blow through, at least not through Christmas, so waters temperatures should remain steady and so should the offshore bite. Happy holidays to all and hope your coolers get filled.

Capt. Randy Rochelle runs the “Gotta Go” out of St. Petersburg and can be reached at (727) 365-3218.