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Venice Inlet and the Gulf of Mexico
Capt. Dave Pinkham
June 9, 2000
Venice - Saltwater Fishing Report
This week we have been fishing several of the artificial reefs west of Venice Inlet. I've had good success fishing most of the reefs at different times. The key is to be at the right spot, at the right time, with the right bait. This particular day we picked the right reef and the fish were stacked up, and conditions were conducive for hungry fish.
Action had been hot with a wide variety of fish taking the baits such as mangrove and yellowtail snappers, kingfish, amberjacks, permit, and groupers. We were doing pretty well until something big started grabbing our fish before we could get them in the boat. Considering where we were, and past similar experiences on this spot, I surmised the culprit was none other than a jewfish. Jewfish are the largest member of the grouper family. They have been known to grow in excess of 700 pounds, and are now federally protected in the Gulf Of Mexico. One thing for sure the snapper rigs we were using were no match for the monster on the other end of the line. The battle ended quickly with the line broken off on the sharp edge of the reef below. With the jewfish now feeding, the snapper bite we had been enjoying ended abruptly. Jewfish have made a tremendous comeback since the moratorium on harvesting them was put into effect several years back. They normally hang around structure such as sunken wrecks and the artificial reefs due the smaller fish they feed on seeking shelter there.
Believe it or not king mackerel are still around. Let's hope they hang around for a while. There's also been some big Spanish mackerel hitting live bait and trolled spoons just off the beaches and up to 10 miles offshore. Little tunie have been mixing up with the mackerel as they feed on the schools of baitfish offshore. Locally called bonito, these silver speedsters are pound for pound one of the hardest fighting fish I know of.
Grouper fishing has moved farther offshore requiring more time to put keepers in the cooler. The same areas that hold the groupers will often produce snappers. Test out the water with lighter gear, you may be pleasantly surprised. Snapper will often avoid big hooks and heavy lines.
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