Offshore bait pods

plumber1969

Any idea what type of bait is offshore right now? I'm seeing pods of thousands of fish in them but not sure what they are. They are not pogies bu t thinking maybe some type of sardine? Also, what would be under them worth trying to catch. I am fishing 10 - 20 miles out when I am seeing them but I saw them all the way in to about 5 miles yesterday on the way in. 

ANUMBER1

juvi dines and glass minnows..

I think.

capt louie

If they are getting slashed it's probably mac's or bonitos . Could be kingfish around them.

plumber1969

We saw kings skyrocketing this morning on them. Absolutely one of the coolest things to watch as they were hitting over 10 feet. 

RevJoeyFitz

Have they made it as far north as Suwannee or Horseshoe yet?

plumber1969

This was Steinhatchee and I was showing big arches on my finder about halfway up the water column 

briankinley2004

plumber1969 said:

This was Steinhatchee and I was showing big arches on my finder about halfway up the water column 

Thats a giant blue fin tuna baw

slaughter'em

I was out that way on March 28th and there were several giant pods of cigar minnows. I caught several on a sabiki rig to verify.

Michiman

Is it unreasonable to hope that there are still some Kings off Crystal River?

Salty Dawg44

Michiman said:

Is it unreasonable to hope that there are still some Kings off Crystal River?

I catch them quite regularly any time of the year that the water temperature is above 69 degrees. In the summer they'll be near the surface until about 9AM. After that, fish deep.

I haven't been out in awhile, and the last King I got was on January 16th, which was a surprise. But it was a warmer than normal winter here.

Michiman

Thanks for the encouraging info. I caught one midsummer about 3 years ago but assumed it was an aberration and I haven't caught one since. 

nick

I haven’t got out past 8’ of water in a few weeks but it seems like the Spanish and bait have moved out. 

Michiman

Moved out to deeper water or out of the area?

nick

I’d say deeper but I haven’t been out personally. 

I’ve got a hankering for some top water amber jack action and it hasn’t been calm enough to do it. 😭