Redfish
Posts: 482
 
Location: Tampa Bay | Weekly Fishing Report
By JIM LEE
Posted September 11, 2008 by The Tampa Tribune
Freshwater:
Bass action was great until the winds picked up again from Hurricane Ike. However, as soon as the winds subside, bluegill bass and — yes — speckled perch will be on the menu.
LAKE TARPON: Tarpon Tom’s Fresh and Saltwater Bait & Tackle, (727) 772-0708: Rat-L-Traps and other crank baits are catching bass. Day and night tournaments are showing very good catches; call in to fish a local tournament. The top five fish have been running 15 to 17 pounds. Work heavy cover with artificial worms. Bluegill still can be caught on worms and crickets. Speckled perch catches should start in October.
KISSIMMEE CHAIN: Grape Hammock Fish Camp, (863) 692-1500: Anglers say the bluegill bite is still on, and when the winds subside you will still be able to catch them. Bass action also will resume.
LORIDA-ISTOKPOGA: Trails End Fishing Resort guide service, (863) 655-0134: The winds have kept anglers off the water. However, bass catches continue to range from 4 to 10 pounds. The bluegill will still bite when the winds stop.
OKEECHOBEE, THE WEST WALL: One of the finest fishing lakes in the U.S. is still on its knees. Some bass and bluegill can be caught in Rim Canal. Otherwise, fishing the lake is difficult.
LAKE PANASOFFKEE: Pana Vista Lodge, (352) 793-2061: Bass action is good. Bluegill are still biting. You can still take home dinner. It won’t be long before speckled perch will be on the menu.
Saltwater:
Fishing between the tropical storms and hurricanes is getting habitual — and not fun. The Everglades to Fort Myers were blown pretty hard, so reports are sketchy at best. However, flounder are moving into the bay area and are well entrenched in the South Shore area. Mackerel, mangrove snapper, pompano and a few tarpon are still here to catch. Some say the trout catch is improving. Redfish is the principal target of flats guides. The mangrove snapper bite is good, but they haven’t filled the ships channel yet.
10,000 ISLANDS: Captain Cory McMillin, (239) 695-4420: Redfish and snook are the main events when the winds stop. Next week should be very good for both species. Fish the outside points on the moving tide. Snook can be found just back in the mangroves on the inside.
SARASOTA: Captain Rick Grassett, (941) 923-7799: Grassett caught a 10-pound bonefish last week under 25-mph wind conditions. This week, on the eastern shore of Sarasota Bay, he caught snook, redfish, bluefish and big jacks on Clouser flies.
SUN CITY, BISHOPS HARBOR & COCKROACH BAY: John’s Bait & Tackle, (813) 376-1127: Captain John’s new “on the water” bait shop will be located at Cockroach Bay.
RUSKIN: South Shore Bait & Tackle, (813) 641-2010: Redfish are running rampant around the Cockroach Bay area. The flatter the better, as flounder take jigs and live shrimp on the bottom. Mangrove snapper are the standby catch for the table, and they also like live bait. Simmons Park has been the place to find large sheepshead.
WESTERN SHORE AND SKYWAY AREA: Captain Sergio Atanes, (813) 973-7132: Pinellas Point is showing a lot of Spanish mackerel. Fish the northeast side of the Meisner Bridge flats for trout. Mangrove snapper are at the Sunshine Skyway and under the docks. Live shrimp will catch them.
UPPER TAMPA BAY: Denny B’s Quality Bait & Tackle, (813) 885-9811: Resident snook are along the mangroves along the North Shore. Fish the creeks and canal on the moving tides for these fish. However, redfish are the easiest catch. The bridges still have small tarpon. Fish the deep and rocky areas for mangrove snapper.
SOUTH PINELLAS: Captain Paul Hawkins, (727) 560-6762: Tarpon are getting smaller, but some are still here. There are still plenty of these fish in the bay and some on the beaches. Fish the bridges, beaches and inlets for pompano.
SKYWAY, UPPER BAY AND OFFSHORE: Captain James Wisner, (813) 784-5658: The mangrove snapper bite just gets better. Small sardines and shrimp are Wisner’s baits of choice. There are still some tarpon, but they should move out soon.
FISHING PIERS: South Pier, (941) 729-0117: Pier fishing offers most of the species being caught in the bay. Fish the pier for speckled trout, redfish, flounder, mackerel and 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 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 greater amberjack.
GANDY BAIT & TACKLE: (813) 839-5551: The mangrove snapper bite is getting better. Smaller tarpon are still at the bridges. Schools of reds are roaming to the south end of the bay. A few snook are still available. Use live bait.
CLEARWATER to DUNEDIN: Captain Brian Mathey, (727) 667-8291: Redfish, snook and trout are good catches. Fish the barrier islands and shoreline for redfish, and fish the beaches and mangroves for snook. The trout bite is getting better around the spoil islands.
TARPON SPRINGS: Captain Rich Knox, (727) 376-8809: Redfish are beginning to school up better before the October spawn. If you see a school of mullet, throw a gold spoon at them, as reds might be running with the mullet. The snook bite has been excellent and they enter their transition phase, moving off the deeper ledges and beaches further inshore.
KEATON BEACH: One More Cast guide service, (850) 584-9145: Amazingly, Keaton Beach area anglers are catching trout to 25.5 inches. As soon as the water cools, artificial lures will begin to work very well, especially topwater lures. Scallop season is over and was a great season. No offshore report.
FLY FISHING: Redfish are schooling; flounder are hugging the bottom — and both will eat a Clouser fly. So will redfish and trout. Snook like a white streamer or a shrimp pattern. Fly anglers have it made.
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