Fishing All Through the Holidays!

Hi everyone, Capt. Brian again! Thanks everyone for reading my reports and booking trips with me! Please consider a Gift Certificate as a Christmas Gift this year! They make great stocking stuffers! We are expecting a dip in the jetstream this week. But we should rebound the following week to mild temps.

Nearshore fishing is still going strong in north Pinellas county. Bait schools are roaming together just a couple miles offshore attracting kingfish, spanish mackerel and bonito. The beaches are still holding sardines for cast netting at sunrise. I like to have a baitwell full of sardines for chumming if sitting on anchor. Otherwise, once offshore, look for the birds diving into threadfin schools. Use sabiki rigs to jig up a few of the larger threadfin herring. Use wire and a 2/0 or 3/0 hook and a treble hook tied on for a stinger. Sometimes slow trolling in the vicinity of the bait schools is the best way get a strike from a kingfish. 50 – 65 lb mainline and 30 – 50lb leader is a good combination for these smokers often weighing over 30lbs. If the kingfish bite is slow, anchor over hard bottom, again near the bait schools and chum cut peices of baits. This will get the spanish mackerel and bonito coming to the boat and even the kings can get in the chum line eventually. The popular artificial reefs are holding a few mangrove snappers and small groupers. Once over a rockpile, chumming cut pieces will often gather the snapper right behind the boat. However, they are very shy of hooks and line so downsize to a #2 hook and long shot of lighter leader, usually 20lb. Then slowly drift a cut piece of bait into the chummed pieces. Break-offs will occur but the bite will be better.

Redfish are hanging around on the flats. Small schools are staging in the potholes on the lower tides. As usual this time of year, the large trout are also moving into St. Joseph Sound. I am ready to get you out there and catch some fish all through the holiday season. Call or email me and let’s get your day booked! Brian