Grouper diggers rejoice as the season closure and winter weather comes to an end

A STAFF REPORT

It’s time to think warm thoughts and help Spring out a little. By now everyone is tired of battling those winter winds and heavy seas. There’s light at the end of the tunnel and April is going shorten the trip.

The offshore bottom fishing did start heating up last month, a sure sign that the change is coming although it’s a little late. Extended-range trips are producing nice, mixed bags of gags, reds, scamps, snappers and just enough big “rustys” (giant gag grouper) to keep the excitement level up on every drop. Monster live baits are the key to the bigger fish but frozen sardines and Boston mackerels have been working great for anything under 20-pounds. If you’re looking for a challenge, large (three to eight ounce) flair-hair jigs have been producing some nice grouper as well. Best bet is to start looking 80-feet and out.

If it’s scamp you’re after, live cigar minnows and small grunts or pins fished several cranks off the bottom attract the largest of these tasty groupers. While utilizing a lighter leader could provoke more scamp bites, it might not be wise to lighten up your leader too much – Unless you don’t mind getting popped off by a monster black that was waiting and watching for just the right, tasty little morsel to come dangling over his head. Catching scamps is cool, but getting freight-trained in front of your buddies and shutting off the bite is very un-cool.

Snapper fishing is pretty good south and deep but it’s still might be a little early for the big mangos to move on to the pothole bottom areas. If you’re looking for mangos, springs and big ledges are your best bet.

And while you’re there, you might as well pick a fight with some amberjacks. Most springs and wrecks are holding jacks right now. Light sinkers, long leaders and large, bouncy, live baits (blue runners, pinfish, grunts, etc.) will keep the rods bent all day. Diamond, slab and big bucktail jigs will do in a pinch, especially if you find some hungry amberjacks bunched near the surface. A large surface-chugging lure worked in the same situation can also have explosive results.

The blackfin tuna thing is hit or miss for now but keep our eyes open. Keep an eye out for the shrimpers to start showing. Be sure to grab some sardines when you see them as it could a short run.

Keep an eye on the loop current. It’s about time for it to send sailfish, wahoo, tuna and dolphin our way. Good luck and stay safe.