[JohnB]

Ryank,
I have not had problems with algae (that I know of) on the west coast. We have got a serious algae (cornflake) and cold water problem on the east coast that is as bad as I have ever seen it (from Ft Pierce to north of Daytona). It has the fishing all messed up. We are finding them, but not in the usual places with the usual tactics. Someone caught 2 nice dolphin in 40-50 feet of water out of Sebastian last weekend. The problem with grouper in 25 feet of water at 86 degrees is you can see/shoot them diving, but getting them to bite is a whole different story. I think that if you fish them at first light, when the water is coolest, you have your best shot at them, By 11:00AM, they just seem to shut down, and the dinks and grunts take over.
Are you talking about the shrimp boats on the East or West coast. I have not had success either locating or fishing the shrimp boats on the west coast. On the east coast, it is a little early for them over here. They usually set up in 140' of water to clean their catch, and I do fish them from time to time looking for tuna. This year I usually get bonita, sharks, and the occasional cobia, but I keep trying. A guy I was buddy boating with got a nice Blackfin Tuna 75 feet behind me in my chum slick. The shrimp boats will probably be out there in numbers the 1st week of August, but this has been a wackey weather year. I don't know how it will affect what they do.
Do you ever fish the East Coast?, if so out of which port?