Redfish
Posts: 392
 
Location: Tampa Bay | Weekly Fishing Report
By JIM LEE
Posted August 21, 2008 by The Tampa Tribune
Freshwater:
Rain gear was the most important item for those who tried to fish. If not for the foul weather, bluegill, shellcracker and bass would have been jumping into the boats for all who went after them. However, we will just have to wait out the winds. It is a shame, as this was the full moon phase that put those fish on the beds again.
LAKE TARPON: Tarpon Tom’s Fresh and Saltwater Bait & Tackle, (727) 938-2379: Bass action was good until the weather went into the wind and rain mode. There are still lots of bluegill to catch when the weather clears, although some are smaller than usual.
KISSIMMEE CHAIN: Grape Hammock Fish Camp, (863) 692-1500: As the wind and rain eases, look for good bass and bluegill catches — perhaps as soon as this weekend.
LORIDA-ISTOKPOGA: Trails End Fishing Resort guide service, (863) 655-0134: This is the time of year with few tourist anglers on this lake. Locals were blown off the lake by the winds. Next week fishing should be back to normal, with bass 5 to 7 pounds and good bluegill catches.
OKEECHOBEE, THE WEST WALL: One of the finest fishing lakes in the U.S. is still very low. Some bass and bluegill can be caught in Rim Canal.
Saltwater:
A rough week on the water; not many people were able to fish. After the seas get back to normal, mackerel, redfish, trout, snook, pompano, cobia, tarpon and mangrove snapper will be caught again. Tarpon could move out a little early if the amount of rain changes the salinity of the water too much. Offshore action is good in 80 to 100 feet off Clearwater /St. Petersburg, and 40- to 50-foot depths off Hernando Beach, which is about the same distance of 25 to 30 miles. Grouper, grunt, mangrove snapper and black sea bass are being caught. Mangrove snapper catches at night are very good. Scallops are still available in limit numbers.
10,000 ISLANDS: Captain Cory McMillin, (239) 695-4420: The glades will soon be back to normal, likely by the weekend. Permit, mangrove snapper and cobia are the other white meat besides snook. You still can catch good numbers of redfish.
RUSKIN: South Shore Bait & Tackle, (813) 641-2010: When the weather clears, cobia, redfish, trout and mangrove snapper will be catchable again. The Sunshine Skyway bridge area is producing good numbers of mackerel and tarpon.
WESTERN SHORE AND SKYWAY AREA: Captain Sergio Atanes, (813) 973-7132: Cobia have been in the bay and should bite again as the weather clears. Trout, mangrove snapper and a few mackerel can be caught when the winds ease.
UPPER TAMPA BAY: Denny B’s Quality Bait & Tackle, (813) 885-9811: This is one of the few places you can find resident snook year-round. Snook and redfish are the fish to target in the upper bay. Live whitebait, shrimp and pinfish are the baits to use.
SOUTH PINELLAS: Captain Paul Hawkins, (727) 560-6762: Tarpon have been the prime catch and hopefully the heavy rain won’t change the salinity and run them off sooner than normal. Hawkins had been catching tarpon 90 to 125 pounds. Redfish and pompano are also on the menu.
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 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 also might catch porgies and amberjack on longer trips. The extended and overnight trips will produce the best catches of grouper, red snapper, mangrove snapper 4 to 8 pounds and amberjack.
GANDY BAIT & TACKLE: (813) 839-5551: Black drum, tarpon, mangrove snapper, sheepshead, and mackerel are being caught. Trout, redfish and snook also will be caught by those who go for them. Release any fish by not touching and while still in the water if possible; it’s easy with needle-nose pliers or a new de-hooker.
TARPON SPRINGS: Captain Rich Knox, (727) 376-8809: Redfish and a few mackerel can be taken. Redfish are where you find them, on the flats and at the upriver docks.
HERNANDO COUNTY: Captain Frank Bourgeois, (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: Limits of scallops are being taken in 3 feet of water. Anglers using live pinfish under Cajun Thunders continue to catch lots of trout more than 20 inches. No offshore report.
HERNANDO BEACH: Captain Rick Rodriguez, (727) 992-9494: As soon as the weather clears, mangrove snapper and grouper catches will continue. Mangrove snapper are being caught in the daytime, but the better catches are at night.
FLY FISHING: Ever catch a kingfish with a fly rod? It is a real hoot — even if you cheat and use live bait! But you don’t have to. Meanwhile, pompano, redfish and snook are good targets.
-----
Tampa Bay Fishing Media RSS Feeds: Recent Articles | Upcoming Events | Recent Threads |
Weekly Fishing Report - Jim Lee | TBO
