Starting this month, you can get into the swing of the “summer pattern” of both the bait and the fish. Huge schools of cigars and sardines will start to show on the nearshore wrecks and reefs…especially anything in the 10-20 mile range. The fact that the bait will be showing up in the areas would tell me the fish (of all kinds) will be right there with them. Don’t think that just because you are only 10-20 miles off the beach, that the gags are not right there in the general vicinity…they are. This will continue to be the pattern until the early- to mid-winter patterns kick in. Some of the most memorable days I have with my boys are inside the 20-mile mark, catching gags, pinkies, grunts, sea bass, kings, cobia and dolphin, all in the same day.
This is the “best of the best” for kids fishing (for me too), but keeping them interested with constant bites is the way to fly. Keep at least one rod down for grouper with a grass grunt, sailors choice, pinfish or other bait slightly smaller than your hand, but keep the kids firing down frozen (or live) sardines for non-stop action. This activity will not go unnoticed by the sharks if they happen to be in the area, but don’t be afraid to fly the anchor and move either down the same ledge, or onto another ledge.
LOOK FOR THE BAIT….either on the surface, or on the recorder…find the bait, find the fish! If you fish off to the north (above and out beyond WR-2), be sure to drop in frozen or live sardines into these big marks of bait showing on the recorder.
These big marks of bait, on or near the bottom in 125 feet of water, will CERTAINLY have red grouper under them. This bottom is pretty blank, with miles of slick flat sand bottom (you know, the bottom NOAA takes all the survey data from, and not under bait, just slick flat sand bottom), so any big marks you see going to and from the break are worthy of just a few minutes to drop in and see who is home…. MANY, MANY red grouper have gone in the box doing this running/marking style of fishing. Anchor on the bait, and sometimes they will stay right under the boat. Be sure to put the light line out, cause there ain’t no telling what is crusing around out there in 125-130 feet of water. Dolphin and sails will definately come to see you doing this.
It’s been a long cold winter and spring, but PLEASE don’t leave the kids out of this! make sure they have rain gear available (that fits), and make sure THEY are having fun. This will come back to you in spades! Take good photos and film so you can enjoy it someday years from now.
FORECAST BY:
Capt. Tim Barefoot, Barefoot Fishing
barefootcharters@aol.com
www.barefootfishing.net
