Captain's Report - April 2, 2004

by Capt. Dave Mistretta

Options are endless during this magical month. Inshore, offshore, it doesn't matter where you go, the fish will cooperate. Water temps are rising into the seventies making all appetites huge.

Kingfish will steal the show for this entire month. All depths are producing kings, but try to concentrate on the schools of baitfish that recently invaded the shallower depths. These inshore waters already have exploded with king action for about ten days. Large schools of threadfin herring and pilchards are bundled up at 25 to 30 foot depths attracting many fish. Bigger predators will stay close by an easily accessible food source for days, making things quite easy for the anglers. Simply catch your bait, then toss a line out and hook up. We have experiencing multiple hookups for hours using this technique. Tossing a few free swimming baits over board while the bite is on keeps the fish completely focused on your spread. Expect a solid three more weeks of good king fishing in these shallower depths. After that, water temps will start to rise, spreading populations to deeper waters.

The artificial reefs about ten miles from shore will then take hold, luring in the kings with its abundant bait source. The list is endless blue runners, Spanish sardines, pilchards, cigar minnows and many, more delicious baitfish await the ravenous kingfish. These man-made structures will keep many anglers busy throughout the month with a wide variety of fish. Sharks, grouper, manrove snapper, permit, Spanish mackerel are just a few of the gamefish available.

We can't forget about the giant barracuda migration during this time. Cudas' have already settled on many of the wrecks and are working up an appetite for a struggling kingfish on the end of a fishing line. Many of the kings hooked by anglers will become prey for these toothy fish as spring progresses. There isn't much you can do when a cuda' zones in on your prized king. I suggest tightening the drag and bullying the king to the boat a.s.a.p., before the barracuda attacks. Be careful handling the king's boat-side, because a hungry barracuda won't think twice about grabbing its prey from your grasp. Their teeth are razor blade sharp and can cause serous injury.

Bottom fishing has been a hit or miss deal in the shallower depths (50 feet in). Water clarity plays a major role during the spring. After a few days of west wind the grouper are aggressive and will hit a variety of baits. A long stretch of calm days and easterly winds, the water can become so clean that anglers must adjust. Down scaling tackle (hooks, leader, and fishing line) it all makes a difference. Oversized sinkers become a deterrent, actually making grouper shy away from the baits. Lightening your sinkers to the least amount of weight that keeps your bait near the bottom is also a must. This requires fisherman to closely monitor the tides and adjust accordingly.

Another option for grouper diggers is to travel a bit further offshore. The deeper water will help hide the leaders and rigged bait increasing the action. Red grouper have started to move in on the many of the bait stacks that blanket the bottom at 100 plus feet. Don't expect to limit out on the 5 per person state allowance, but a few fish can be taken from many of the bait pods.

Cobias are starting to show up in better numbers this month. When they first arrive on many wrecks offshore, they will congregate in large schools. We witnessed a school last April that held over 100 cobias. They congregated over a wreck about ten miles from shore for about a week before moving on. The action was phenomenal until several fish were taken from the school, then they moved on. Some of the cobia will reach 50 plus pounds at this time of year, requiring heavier tackle. A Torque down drag with 60 pound line will stop most of the these brown bombers before reaching the wrecks, but some times even heavier tackle is required.

Last April, weather conditions were unseasonable warm, luring in an early migration of tarpon. If weather conditions repeat themselves, expect to see another early arrival of the mighty silver kings along our beaches. Seventy eight degrees is the number (water temp) that attracts the first migration of beach tarpon our way.

Past Captain's Reports

• March 6, 2004
• February 5, 2004
• December 5, 2003
• November 7, 2003
• October 2, 2003
• September 4, 2003
• August 17, 2003
• July 4, 2003
• May 5, 2003
• April 21, 2003
• April 10, 2003