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Location: Pinellas Point | Weekly Fishing Report
By JIM LEE
Posted August 14, 2008 by The Tampa Tribune
Freshwater
The next two weeks will be the time to go for bluegill. Panfish action is on the rise again as the full moon arrives. This means the next couple of weeks will have the bluegill and shellcracker back on the beds. Bass action is great as summer edges toward better action in September and October.
LAKE TARPON: Tarpon Tom’s Fresh & Saltwater Bait & Tackle (727) 938-2379: Most of the bluegill are a little smaller as we move toward the end of the season. Captain Lenny continues to catch high numbers of smaller fish, with a few in the 4- to 6-pound range. Crickets seem to be a great bait to use in calm weather.
KISSIMMEE CHAIN: Grape Hammock Fish Camp (863) 692-1500: This lake is one of the most productive lakes in the area, producing lots of bass with an occasional bucketmouth. Limits of bluegill are being taken, and it should get better in the next two weeks.
LORIDA-ISTOKPOGA: Trails End Fishing Resort and Guide Service (863) 655-0134: This lake most always surprises anglers with good-sized bass on occasion. Bass in the 5- to 7-pound class are occasionally caught, with high numbers of smaller fish. Bluegill catches are continuing and will get even better in the 14 days or so as the moon fills out.
OKEECHOBEE, THE WEST WALL: The lake level is too low to fish, but they are allowing seine nets to take bluegill and shellcracker in the middle of the lake. The commercial operations are doing well, while the guides and recreational anglers can only wait for it to improve. Some bass and bluegill can be caught in the Rim Canal.
LAKE PANASOFFKEE: Pana Vista Lodge (352) 793-2061: Bluegill are the bulk of the panfish catch and are hot on crickets. A few shellcracker are also being caught. Bass action with the higher water conditions is good. Most bass are in the 2- to 3-pound range, with an occasional 6- to 7-pound fish.
Saltwater
Mid August is just a stone’s throw away from fall changes, which are usually the best time of the year to fish. Mackerel, redfish, trout, snook, pompano, cobia, tarpon and mangrove snapper are all available. Offshore action is good in 80 to 100 feet off Clearwater/St. Petersburg, and in 40- to 50-foot depths off Hernando Beach. Grouper, grunt, mangrove snapper and black sea bass are being caught. The hottest fishing has been mangrove snapper at night, especially on the full-moon phase. Scallops are still available.
10,000 ISLANDS: Captain Cory McMillin, fishtheglades.com, (239) 695-4420: Captain Cory has been offshore after permit, mangrove snapper and cobia a lot recently. Inshore, you can still catch good numbers of redfish and some large snook. Snook are a great summer catch, but the redfish population is even better. Fish the points at the creek mouths on the outside for redfish. Large tarpon are in the major estuary areas, while smaller tarpon are in the backcountry creeks.
SARASOTA: Captain Rick Grassett (941) 923-7799: Captain Rick is leaving the dock before daylight to catch snook. Snook catches of six to 12 fish are being hooked and released. He is also finding tarpon around the bridges early. Good numbers of tarpon are being jumped all over the area. Hook-ups on fly rods and spinning tackle has been very good, but might ease off as the season wanes.
RUSKIN: South Shore Bait & Tackle (813) 641-2010: Cobia are the big target for anglers in this area. A live pinfish under a float works well when you spot a cobia. Redfish, trout and mangrove snapper are the other easy catches. The Skyway area is producing good numbers of mackerel and tarpon.
WESTERN SHORE AND SKYWAY AREA: Captain Sergio Atanes (813) 973-7132: Mackerel are fun to catch either by trolling or using a chum line. Cobia is the by-catch, but you need to be ready for them, as a 4-foot cobia is too big for most trout rigs. Free-line a cigar minnow or other live bait, or put one under a brass clicking float.
UPPER TAMPA BAY: Denny B’s Quality Bait & Tackle (813) 885-9811: Redfish and snook are hot species in the upper bay along the shoreline. You can add tarpon in a little deeper water and at the bridges. Mostly reds and snook are reported. Live bait rules.
SOUTH PINELLAS: Captain Paul Hawkins (727) 560-6762: Captain Paul is still catching tarpon in the 90- to 125-pound range. If tarpon isn’t your game, redfish and pompano are worth the effort. Now is the time to fish for tarpon as they will move out in the next few weeks.
FISHING PIERS: South Pier (941) 729-0117: Pier fishing offers most of the current species being caught in the bay. Fish the pier for speckled trout, redfish, flounder, mackerel and even a stray grouper.
MID-PINELLAS PARTY BOATS: Offshore bottom fishing from Hubbard’s John’s Pass Marina and Kingfish Dock (727) 393-1947: Offshore fishing is good. Fish the deeper waters for grouper, black sea bass, mangrove snapper, and gray snapper. You may also catch porgies and amberjack on longer trips. The extended and overnight trips will produce the best catches of grouper, red snapper, big mangrove snapper and greater amberjack.
GANDY BAIT & TACKLE: (813) 839-5551: The local bridges almost always offer a good number of species. You can often catch pompano, black drum, tarpon, mangrove snapper, sheepshead, and mackerel. Trout, redfish and snook are also being caught. Snook must still be released.
TARPON SPRINGS: Captain Rich Knox (727) 376-8809: No Report, but others in the area are catching redfish and mackerel. Fish upriver docks for redfish and the estuary areas and swash channels for mackerel.
HERNANDO COUNTY: Captain Frank Bourgeois, alwaysfishing.com, (352) 666-6234: Same story, different week. Watch the weather, but fish the 40- to 50-foot depths off Hernando Beach for grouper. Good catches of large Key West grunt and mangrove snapper are also being caught.
KEATON BEACH: One More Cast Guide Service (850) 584-9145: Anglers are catching limits of trout and scallops in the same day. Many limits of trout over 20 inches are still being caught. Offshore limits of scamp grouper along with mangrove snapper are being caught. The Keaton Beach area is hot.
HERNANDO BEACH: Captain Rick Rodriguez, gulfgrouper.com, (727) 992-9494: Mangrove snapper catches are good day and night, but it is easier to limit out at night. Grouper are way offshore in 40 to 50 feet of water.
FLY FISHING: If you have not caught a tarpon on a fly, you might want to go for it now, as tarpon will not hang out in our waters much longer. They are still easy to find and will take a fly in most cases. Meanwhile, Pompano, redfish and snook are good targets.
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