Redfish
Posts: 482
 
Location: Tampa Bay | Weekly Fishing Report
By Jim Lee
Posted October 10, 2008 by The Tampa Tribune
Freshwater:
Great weather, between the rains, but fishing is very good. Some lakes are up, so fish behind the older weed patches in the new water. Bass will school as they go after the bait. Bass action is good. Soon, specks will form in larger groups and will take trolled jigs and minnows. Specks are currently taking jigs in Istokpoga, Okeechobee and other lakes across the southern portion of the state.
LAKE TARPON: Tarpon Tom’s Fresh and Saltwater Bait & Tackle, (727) 772-0708: Find bait and you will find bass; that’s the word from captain Lenny Crispino. Look for birds diving or bait jumping. For bass, use rattling crank baits, topwater lures and spinners. Artificial worms work best after the sun comes up. Use a dark worm and light bullet weight. Speckled perch will turn on very soon.
KISSIMMEE CHAIN: Grape Hammock Fish Camp, (863) 692-1500: Bass fishing is great. You may have had to dodge a few raindrops, but the fishing is getting better and better. Bass 2 to 8 pounds were reported by one party out of Orlando. Speckled perch will start soon. In fact, if people looked for them, they would most likely catch some. A few bluegill can still be caught, but not in numbers like a month ago.
LORIDA-ISTOKPOGA: Trails End Fishing Resort guide service, (863) 655-0134: Big bass can still be caught. This is one of the better bass lakes when the time is right, and we are approaching that time. Some bluegill reported taken and a few specks.
OKEECHOBEE, THE WEST WALL: Work on the dikes has kept the lake level too low to fish, but seine nets are allowed to take bluegill and shellcracker in the middle of the lake. Commercial operations are doing well, but guides and recreational business and anglers can only hope the situation improves. Some bass and bluegill can be caught in the Rim Canal.
LAKE PANASOFFKEE: Pana Vista Lodge, (352) 793-2061: Bluegill can still be caught in one of the best bluegill lakes. Bass action is still good; most are 2 to 4 pounds, with an occasional larger one. Artificial lures and live bait are working.
Saltwater:
Redfish, bluefish, mackerel, flounder, kingfish, trout, snook, grouper, mangrove snapper, black sea bass and grunt are being caught.
10,000 ISLANDS: Captain Cory McMillin, (239) 695-4420: Live shrimp insures action. When bait is hard to find, a bucket of live shrimp is worth the effort. Fish the points for reds and snook on the outside. Fish deeper holes for larger snook and goliath grouper.
SUN CITY, BISHOPS HARBOR & COCKROACH BAY: John’s Bait & Tackle, (813) 376-1127: The only on-the-water bait shop in the South Shore area will be at Cockroach Bay.
RUSKIN: South Shore Bait & Tackle, (813) 641-2010: Reds are schooling in the Cockroach Bay area. Snook are also a good catch. Live shrimp is still the best bait as other natural baits get scarce. Mangrove snapper are still the good catch to take home and eat. Flounder are still being caught.
WESTERN SHORE AND SKYWAY AREA: Captain Sergio Atanes, (813) 973-7132: Large trout are beginning to move into the bay. Troll 00 spoons or small live bait for bonito. You also might catch mackerel this way. The bonito might have moved outside the Sunshine Skyway, but they are a great battle when you find them. Mangrove snapper are hot to catch. Reds are consistently around Joe’s Island. Fish the change of tides. Snook will turn on better with the bigger tides caused by the current moon phase.
UPPER TAMPA BAY: Denny B’s Quality Bait & Tackle, (813) 885-9811: Good snook catches. Live greenbacks, pinfish, shrimp and chubs are being eaten by snook. Reds are the staple. It is too early for trout, but as the weather cools, they will move into the upper bay.
SOUTH PINELLAS: Captain Paul Hawkins, (727) 560-6762: Long tides will see the snook catches improve. Bonito and jacks are schooling, so watch for birds diving. Reds are schooling everywhere. Larger trout are beginning to move in ahead of the snowbirds, which is early. Pompano and small permit also are being caught.
SKYWAY, UPPER BAY AND OFFSHORE: Captain James Wisner, (813) 784-5658: Want to fill your cooler with mangrove snapper? Use small sardines, threadfins or live shrimp. Fish the bridges, passes and around Pinellas Point flats on the shoals of Bootleg Key for pompano. Tarpon are still at the upper bay bridges. Fish light line at night. Mackerel are thick, and kingfish are here; not as thick as they will be, but you can find some. Fish the Fort DeSoto area for schooling redfish. Use big sardines or threadfins for snook on the flats in their winter haunts.
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 a stray grouper.
MID-PINELLAS PARTY BOATS: Offshore bottom fishing from Hubbard’s John’s Pass Marina and Kingfish dock, (727) 393-1947: Go offshore for a fall deep sea fishing extravaganza. 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 and red snapper. You also might catch mangrove snapper 4 to 8 pounds and greater amberjack.
GANDY BAIT & TACKLE: (813) 839-5551: Mackerel are schooling in the upper bay. Some trout are still being caught, and redfish are especially good on the St. Petersburg side. Fish the upper bay for better redfish catches.
CLEARWATER TO DUNEDIN: Captain Brian Mathey, (727) 667-8291: This full moon coming up is helping the larger tides form. This makes snook fishing even better. Night action for snook is best in the creeks and rivers. Mackerel and bluefish are in the passes. Now is the time for smoked bluefish dip. Trout is also big news, with one day’s catch taking trout from 20 to 25 inches close to the shoreline while looking for redfish. Kingfish are to come in soon, and this full moon might cause that to happen.
TARPON SPRINGS: Captain Rich Knox, (727) 376-8809: Mackerel are offshore of the barrier reefs; you can find mackerel and a few kingfish. Redfish are everywhere. Fish the shoreline, inside the rivers, and the big spawn-sized redfish are also around. Snook have been biting poorly, but the long tides should have them biting better. Large trout are moving to the area early. A few large trout are moving in on the flats.
HERNANDO COUNTY: Captain Frank Bourgeois, (352) 666-6234: Lots of grouper are in 8 to 12 feet of water (most red grouper were 18 to 24 inches), and most of the larger fish are further out. Grouper, big sea bass and grunts are being caught.
KEATON BEACH: One More Cast guide service, (850) 584-9145: The winds kept the most trout anglers at bay, but those who went took good numbers under Cajun floats with live pins. Offshore fishing was great. One boat took 11 grouper. Some grouper were caught trolling in 45 feet, and some bottom fishing in 55 feet. Another dive boat took 10 grouper and 20 hogfish spear fishing.
HERNANDO BEACH: Captain Rick Rodriguez, (727) 992-9494: Grouper, mackerel, black sea bass and grunt are biting. The bite is inside 35 feet in most cases. Now is a great time to fish offshore for grouper. Kingfish and bonito are offshore.
FLY FISHING: Fly anglers have it made. Redfish are schooling. Bluefish, mackerel and bonito are in the bay. Kingfish are starting to get closer to shore.
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