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Fish in close for fast-paced bottom action

Posted Jan 24, 2012 by Tribune Sports

Updated Jan 24, 2012 at 02:39 PM

BY RANDY ROCHELLE

The marine forecast isn’t looking to bad for the rest of the week as winds are forecast to be out of the east to southeast at 10 to 15 knots, with seas running around 2 to 4 feet. Gulf water temps are hovering right around the 60-degree mark and, combined with the current closures, means you’ll have to run deep to bring home a grouper dinner.

Right now, red grouper is it and the best bite will be outside of the 100-foot mark and even they will be put on the do-not-keep list come Feb. 1. Other than red grouper, mangrove snapper and amberjack are just about the only other two fish that we have been targeting and you’ll want to run past the 100-foot mark to catch either.

Now, if you don’t mind cleaning a bunch of fish, there are a few fish you can target in closer. The number one fish that comes to mind is grunts or gray snapper, as they are often called, on head boats. These fish rarely exceed more than 2 pounds (hence the cleaning part) but are very tasty and easy to come by. Ledges, rock piles, artificial reefs and areas of live broken bottom in 30 to 80 feet of water are the areas you will want to target. Light spinning tackle rigged with a slip weight above a swivel and a 1/0 to 3/0 hook tied onto a 3-foot section of 30- to 40-pound leader works best. In my humble opinion squid, cut into chunks, is by far the go-to bait. You will also find porgies, triggerfish, snapper and small grouper on these same areas and the fast pace action makes this a prefect fishery for kids. 
                   
Capt. Randy Rochelle runs the “Gotta Go” out of St. Petersburg and can be reached at (727) 365-3218.