If you would like to catch ling try the standard summer fishing protocol: a handful of cut pogies thrown overboard, and live crab or fresh cut bait hanging from circle hooks. Crabs in particular are extremely good baits for ling. Almost every ling I have ever cleaned or seen cleaned had a belly full of crabs. Rods loaded with artificials should also be kept within reach since ling don't mind biting on plastic. Soft plastics like curl-tailed grubs or imitation ribbonfish are good baits for lings. One of my favorite baits is the big six-inch D.O.A. shrimp in brown or chartreuse. Using chartreuse is interesting because most of the offshore guides in Florida swear by it. A popular ling bait in Florida is an 8-inch chartreuse curl-tailed grub dressed out with a sparkled pink skirt. Guides there claim a ling can't resist it. Hard plastics like shallow-running MirrOlures and Jointed Thundersticks can also be productive.

The ling themselves are fascinating creatures to study. Their moves have baffled the scientific and angling communities, but recent developments give insight that can help anglers catch more of them.

For example, it is well known that they travel south to north in the spring and north to south in the fall. But ling are also found in deeper offshore water holding around structure throughout the year. Some scientists believe there is an additional offshore to inshore and back movement. Ling usually start showing up in Louisiana waters when Gulf waters reach 67 degrees and usually stick around until the big northers of fall move through. There is strong evidence to suggest that some ling may bond to a given piece of structure or come back to it every year.

Out of several hundred tagged in the northern Gulf, 55 were recaptured the next year and 12 of them were caught in the exact same spot where they were initially caught. That means the big ling you just never could get to cooperate last summer might be hanging around that very same buoy or rig you saw it at last year. If you happen to be in the neighborhood, you might want to see if it's hanging around and if it's hungrier than it was last time around. But don't be surprised if that ling inhales your bait and spits it right back out before you can set the hook. They tend to do that a lot.

Top ling locations include the short rigs off of Constance Beach and the rigs and pipe stands off the middle coast area.

SPADEFISH
Most anglers despise the spadefish, which, with a tiny mouth and an aggressive nature, robs bait intended for snappers. That's a shame, though, because I dare say that spadefish is every bit as tasty as snapper.

I love to fish for spades with a tiny hook or 1/6-ounce jig head fished under a 1/4-ounce split shot and baited with shrimp. I fish this on a medium-action spinning rod but you might want to consider a heavy action rod. Spades turn on their sides when hooked and give an amazing fight for a small fish.

Spades are easy to find as they typically inhabit the upper part of the water column and will approach your boat out of curiosity. I like to take along some shredded pieces of menhaden and throw a few pieces overboard to get them into a feeding frenzy. Spades will also take flies and present an exciting challenge for anglers looking more to battle with a fish than eat it.

If you are looking for big spadefish, keep your eye on the platform legs of the rig about eight feet down. The bigger spades tend to be shyer and are not as aggressive.

If it is possible to get live shrimp, send down one a free-line and there is a good chance you'll bag one if a big sheepshead doesn't get it first.

GROUPER
Grouper are sort of the wild card along the Gulf Coast with some nice fish starting to show up later in the summer and excellent as fall approaches. Top spots include the rigs out of Port Fourchon and around the Chandeleur Islands.