I went off shore with Capt. Glen Taylor this week to film an episode of “Fishing with Bill Miller”. On a slick calm day with a bait well full of live shrimp and pinfish, Taylor took us 30 miles offshore to some high relief rocky bottom. Upon arrival, we started chumming with pieces of shrimp and frozen glass minnows. No rods were allowed in the water for 10 minutes after we started chumming.
When Taylor gave the all clear to fish sign I free lined a fresh shrimp on a 1/6 oz. jig head back into the chum line. Within seconds I was hooked up to a big mangrove snapper while Taylor was slammed by a big gag grouper.
The action was nonstop with gag and red grouper to 15 pounds and mangrove snapper to 9 pounds. All on light inshore spinning tackle.
On an inshore trip with Capt. Billy Miller in the Pinellas Point area we caught a redfish with 51 spots. I have never caught one with anywhere near that many spots before. Fresh cut pinfish was the bait that captured the multi spot red.
Pompano have been making appearance along the west coast. Look to gulf passes and adjoining sand bars to find the pomps. A yellow or pink pompano jig with a teaser fly has been the top producer.
Maximo Marina says Spanish mackerel are still biting. Look for clear water around passes and troll spoons for fast action.