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February 2007 Offshore
Fishing Forecast
- Gag Grouper should
continue to be one of the main fish to target on the gulf this month. In fact,
February is one of the best months of the year for catching gags. Look to find
them holding on just about any decent bottom structure. Depending on the day and
the conditions, the gags should fall for both live and cut baits. As the water
temperature starts to warm up toward the end of the month, trolling deep diving
lures as well as large planning boards with big spoons will also produce some
hefty gag groupers. Often the key to finding a good school of gag groupers will
be by moving from one fishing hole to another. Passing cold fronts should get
the gags moving and feeding so try fishing after the front allows. - Red grouper fishing out on the Gulf is dependable most of the year. Generally, to catch a 20" minimum keeper generally requires fishing out in water depths of at least 60' or deeper. If you're looking for the big ones in the 10 to 20 pound class then plan on fishing out in deeper waters. The most important key to catching red grouper is to make sure your bait gets down to the bottom where the fish live. Remember, groupers are bottom fish, so make sure you put enough weight on to get your bait down quickly. The more bottom time with your bait, the better your chances of catching fish.
- Mangrove snappers,
yellow tail snappers, lane snappers, trigger fish, and other reef species such
as porgies and white grunts will be hanging around just about any type of hard
bottom such as the artificial reefs, natural ledges, or any other structure you
can locate. Lighter tackle baited up with shrimp or cut bait will often get
these fish turned on. Once again, be sure your bait is fished near or on the
bottom. - Greater Amberjack
fishing has been dependable all winter, and should continue to be good into the
spring. These big brawlers like to hang out around the deeper shipwrecks, spring
holes, and big ledges out past 90' of water. A good lively bait is hard to beat.
These same areas that hold the AJ's will also attract other species such as
blackfin tuna, shark, Goliath groupers, and cobia. - King and Spanish
mackerel may make a showing toward the end of the month. This really depends on
if the weather and the waters temperatures continue warming up. We'll be sure to
let you know when we start catching mackerels again.
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