By Capt. Ric Liles
Fishing Columnist
It’s funny how as fishermen we are never satisfied with the weather. I’m probably the worst when it comes to this. All I did last winter was wish for warm weather.
Lately, I’ve been wishing for cool weather. I know that by February I’ll be tired of cooler temperatures and begging for the heat of summer.
It seems to be that way with wind direction as well. I was fishing for grouper on a charter at the Skyway Bridge and wanted a different wind direction to make it easier to set up with the tide.
I had just hung my anchor up at a previous location and could not get loose, so I had to cut it. I tried to stay on the fish without being anchored. My guys managed to catch 12 grouper, but never got a keeper.
During this trip, I had something happen that I’ve heard other fishermen talk about but never experienced. We hooked a porpoise. He ran off about 50 yards of line and then returned to the boat as if to say, “Can you help me here?”
Thankfully, we were able to cut the line. That incident could have been a lot worse had he just decided to blast out of there.
The inshore fishing has been pretty good as well, as bigger snook seem to have finally unlocked their jaws and to start eating. My best snook action has been on the afternoon trips. I have run with the snook by following the bait schools around the flats. They should start heading to the backwaters as temperatures start to drop.
In closing, I would like to congratulate junior angler Austin Lupton for the seven-plus pound bass he caught on a piece of Sam’s Club rotisserie chicken. I’ve got to try that for redfish.
Until next time, good luck and be safe on the water. Remember: don’t let your kids be the ones that got away, take them fishing.
