Captain's Corner: Dolphins have been abundant

By Dave Zalewski, Times Correspondent
Sunday, July 10, 2011

What's hot: On several recent trips, we have returned with colorful boxes of fish, including dolphin (mahimahi), yellowtail snapper, mangrove snapper and red grouper. All were caught in 80-90 feet. One reason dolphins have been attracted to the boat is the protection it affords. But mostly, it has been because they are attracted to the chum created while bottom fishing.

Tactics: Whenever they are seen chasing a bait or a hooked fish, being prepared is the key to success. These fish are 2-3 pounds and have correspondingly small mouths, so small that 1/0 or 2/0 long shanked gold hooks should be used and tied directly to an 8- to 10-pound class spinning outfit. A pair of scissors for cutting a frozen sardine into thin slices should be at hand when the fish are spotted. These small slices will tease the fish, remain near the surface and not fill them up. Using chunks of chum will often fill them up or the chum will sink rapidly, sending the dolphin into the depths and out of the strike zone.

Hooks: Using the hooks serves two purposes. First, the long shank helps prevent swallowing of the hook. Second, many times, the aggressive strike of the fish will strip the bait from the hook. When these fish are feeding, we have observed many times their willingness to strike the flash of the gold hook as it is being reeled in to rebait. Most of our yellowtails have been caught by using a 2/0 circle hook rigged "knocker style" with a small, sliding sinker and a chunk of frozen Spanish sardine just large enough to cover the hook.

Dave Zalewski charters the Lucky Too out of Madeira Beach. Call (727) 397-8815.

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/outdoors/captains-corner-dolphins-have-been-abundant/1179845

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