Scouting Trip or the cure for Spring fever - Posted: 02/20/11
Well the weather is warming, it almost doesn't feel like winter, Spring wants to get here early and I'm OK with that. This of course gives me Spring fever and the only cure is time on the water. The water temps have risen to 63 from the mid 50's in the last week and the forecast is warm all week, so maybe we'll see the high 60's by weeks end and that will signal a start to a Spanish Mackerel run and Cobia.
This weather provides me the opportunity to do some scouting, one of my best boat upgrades this winter was a Humminbird 1197c bottom machine/gps. It has side imaging out to 240 ft on each side of the boat and I am seeing things that I haven't seen before. This has vastly improved my fishing areas nearshore, so scouting is more fun and very productive. We are catching and releasing the absolute best Red Snapper we have ever caught, most fish over 10 lbs and within sight of land!! I have been keeping good notes on my logs and if nearshore Red snapper is on your agenda, You need to get on down. I am using the light tackle approach, with 20lb spinning gear, a 7 ft med rod with a 5 ft flourocarbon leader and 4/0 circle hook, since this is catch and release I don't mind a break off.
