Captain's Corner: May patterns are inconsistent

Summer conditions have arrived earlier than expected sending fish into transitional behaviors. Patterns that should typically be in place during May have been somewhat inconsistent. Staying on top of fish can be tricky. Staying on top of baitfish can be even trickier. Carry a bag of frozen bait as a backup plan. Many inshore fish will eat cut bait including redfish and snook. Snapper, sea bass, grunts and flounder will also gorge on cut bait, making it unnecessary to spend precious fishing time struggling to find bait. When concentrations of fish are on the move the best bet is to start where you left fish on the previous trip then keep moving until they are located. Allow enough time at each spot to give the fish a chance, but don't waste time if nothing is happening.

Brent Gaskill runs Summer Vacation Charters out of the St. Petersburg area and can be reached at captbrent@summervacationcharters.com and (727) 510-1009.