Photo tby Dave Watson The earth is ¾ water and ¼ land. I believe that means the good lord wanted us to spend three times more of our life fishing than we do mowing the lawn. So park the mower and get out fishing. If there was any doubt that the fishing is getting hot, this last week has proven it. Reports for all over tell us of the increase in the number and size of fish getting caught. Charter boats are coming back to the marina with catches of Spanish mackerels, snappers, and some groupers. Pier and shore anglers have seen a big increase in the number of snappers, redfish, and snook being caught. Sea trout are still biting in the late afternoon and early evening using live shrimp. Today we witnessed some giant size sheephead being caught using live fiddler crabs at the small piers next to the Bait House. While bottom fishing works for many of our game fish, it also opens the door to catching a few of the dreaded catfish. While some love the fight these scrappers put up, most find them a necessary imposition to getting to the fish they want. We’ve heard of and seen some nasty stings fishermen are getting from trying to handle these fish. The catfish have three barbs that can get you. One is the front of their dorsal fin on their back and one on each of it’s pectoral fins located on each side of the fish. The easiest way to handle them is to grab them with their belly to your palm. Slide your thumb under one pectoral fin and your middle finger under the other. Your index finger tightens on top of the pectoral fin that your middle finger is underneath. This will help hold the fish in place to remove the hook and insure that you won’t be getting a barb in your hand. An old wives tale says that should we get stung by a barb, rub some slime off of the same fish onto the injury and it will act like a natural antibiotic and stop the stinging to your hand. Many local anglers swear by this method. With cooler temperatures it’s a great time to pack up the family and head out for a great day of fishing. As always, don’t forget your local bait shop. Besides the bait and tackle you need, the information we get from other anglers may help you have a successful day on the water. Good Luck Out There! Jim can be found daily at the Bait House - Clearwater Municipal Marina
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