by Capt. Bill D’Antuono
The off-season lull is an all too familiar sight for fishing guides throughout Florida. Even though we get a much-needed break, it seems as if the phone is disconnected at times. The kids are back in school, temps are swelteringly hot, threats of hurricanes are looming and our northern friends are enjoying good weather. The good news is, the fishing is coming back to near-shore waters inside of 70 feet. Hit hard during last year’s red tide, I have been noticing more bottom fish rebounding in the shallows.
Visibility offshore has been hit or miss. Near shore visibility at 35-45 feet has been consistently good. Try to get out on an incoming tide. Wrecks seem to have poorer visibility than live bottom areas. Offshore visibility up to 130 feet can vary from spot to spot. I’ve heard conflicting reports from many divers saying one depth is good and the same depth be bad. The only conclusion I can come to is that the water moves around out there so keep looking for that good water on the bottom. My advice is to just keep diving, don’t limit yourself to one spot and make blanket assumptions, don’t give up.
Red grouper fishing has been phenomenal. Get out to around 90 feet and drop a live bait down and chances are you will be rewarded with one of these “stinkys” or “fire trucks”. My method is to use a chicken rig with a dropper loop and 4-6-ounce weight. The line will never tangle and red grouper will hit nearly any bait you put in front of them. Pinfish work great, especially ‘butterflied’ where you filet from the tail and leave the shoulder intact. This is irresistible to red grouper. Make sure you are using at least a 5000-class reel and 40lb fluorocarbon leader.
Don’t forget about your local guides! Now is a great time to get out and schedule a trip, diving, fishing or spearfishing. I will have some exciting news for next season, so stay tuned and keep those lines tight. Captain Bill D’Antuono, Offshore Naples Fish & Dive Charters.
