The kings are back

Forget the groundhog and his shadow, the only sure way to find out if spring is really here is to head to the Egmont Shipping Channel and start slow trolling for kingfish.

The bite has been sporadic in recent weeks as anglers have waited in anticipation for th big schools to head north from Key West to their summer feeding grounds in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. We Suncoasters should consider ourselves lucky as we get two chances to catch these open ocean predators, one in the spring and once in the fall.

Sure there a a few resident kings that linger in deep water even during the height of summer. Fifteen years ago, I hooked a 45-pound plus fish in the middle of July about 50 miles offshore. But fishing for summer kings is hit or miss. Your best bet to join the action is during the spring or fall run.

Friday, fishing near markers three and four, we hooked fought about 30 kings in a three hour period. Dr. Reggie Ligon boated five kings and lost at least five more. We kept a few of the smallest ones for a fish fry at Gators on the Pass.

Ligon was checking out Capt. Larry "Huffy" Hoffman's new 36-foot Scarab. Well, it isn't Hoffman's yet. He is thinking about by the triple engine fishing machine. The demo boat had more the 100 hours on it, and after we were done, a little blood on the deck.

The bite was nothing short of phenomenal. It seemed like every time we motored back to our spot and dropped the sardines over the side, Wham! Hookup.

Ain't spring grand?