Redfish
Posts: 482
 
Location: Tampa Bay | Weekly Fishing Report
By JIM LEE
Posted October 17, 2008 by The Tampa Tribune
Freshwater:
A little windy this week, but otherwise the weather was good. A few showers just make the bass bite better. A cool front will help move up the timetable for the speckled perch (a k a crappie). Crankbaits and spinners still work early, then go to a worm down under. Bait will be schooling and bass will be where the bait is. Just look for it for great catches of 20 to 30 bass daily.
LAKE TARPON: Tarpon Tom’s Fresh and Saltwater Bait & Tackle, (727) 772-0708: Captain Lenny Crispino is looking for birds diving or bait jumping. This is how you have those 20-fish days. Artificial (dark color) worms work best after the sun comes up. A topwater lure or spinner will take bass before the sun comes over the trees. Speckled perch will turn on very soon.
KISSIMMEE CHAIN: Grape Hammock Fish Camp, (863) 692-1500: The bass bite is on, with bass running 3 to 8 pounds. A few bluegill are still being caught, but not in large numbers. Specks might be available, but you might have to troll speck spinners to find them. Cool weather will turn them on.
LORIDA-ISTOKPOGA: Trails End Fishing Resort guide service, (863) 655-0134: Some large specks are being caught. The bass action is fairly good if you can brave the recent winds. Bass action is almost ready to bust out big.
OKEECHOBEE, THE WEST WALL: It could be better, and will be again someday. This water level is too low to fish, but seine nets are allowed to take bluegill and shellcracker in the middle of the lake. The commercial operations are doing well, but guides and recreational businesses and anglers seek improvement. Some bass and bluegill can be caught in the Rim Canal.
LAKE PANASOFFKEE: Pana Vista Lodge, (352) 793-2061: Bluegill still can be caught. Hopefully the specks will turn on here this year; sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t. Bass, however, are year-round on artificial lures and live shiners.
Saltwater:
Watch the winds, but we have the fish. Almost all the fall fish are answering the call. Redfish, bluefish, mackerel, flounder, kingfish, trout, snook, grouper, mangrove snapper, black sea bass and grunt are being caught. Gag grouper will come in closer next month, so plan ahead.
10,000 ISLANDS: Captain Cory McMillin, (239) 695-4420: Most snook are average size, with an occasional bigger one taken. Redfish are very abundant. Live shrimp assures action, as live bait often is small now. That should change rapidly.
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 located at Cockroach Bay.
RUSKIN: South Shore Bait & Tackle, (813) 641-2010: Fall action is very good. Redfish and snook are the main events close in, and the Cockroach Bay area is hot for both. Live shrimp is still the best bait. Mangrove snapper are easy money and great table fare. However, flounder are even better and can be caught by dragging a jig across the sand.
WESTERN SHORE AND SKYWAY AREA: Captain Sergio Atanes, (813) 973-7132: Nice trout are the new target. However, for live hot trolling action, go for mackerel. Troll small spoons. As the bait grows, you might have to change or mix sizes of spoons to get the right combination. Mangrove snapper are eating live shrimp or small greenbacks. Snook action with the full-moon tides has been better.
UPPER TAMPA BAY: Denny B’s Quality Bait & Tackle, (813) 885-9811: Live greenbacks, pinfish, shrimp and chubs are the best snook and redfish baits. This area is known for its big snook for most of the year, as there are some big resident snook. However, as the water cools, more snook move into the residential canals.
SOUTH PINELLAS: Captain Paul Hawkins, (727) 560-6762: Schooling redfish are the easy fish to find. When you seem a big dark or red color moving in the water, get in front of them and cast to them from as far as possible. Large trout are being caught, even before the cooler weather gets here. Pompano and small permit are still being caught.
SKYWAY, UPPER BAY AND OFFSHORE: Captain James Wisner, (813) 784-5658: The mangrove snapper bite carries on. Don’t miss this great fall bite on this nice eating fish. Use small sardines, threadfins or live shrimp and you can’t go wrong. The Fort DeSoto area is a great area for trout and redfish schools.
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 (a k a grunt). 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: The fact that a few trout have been taken is a very good sign. That means they might be in the upper bay ahead of schedule. Mackerel are schooling in the upper bay, and redfish are fairly easy to catch.
CLEARWATER TO DUNEDIN: Captain Brian Mathey, (727) 667-8291: Night snook trips are the best. With the long tides, it makes going out and spending half the night catching snook worthwhile. Fish the rivers, creeks and residential dock areas. Big trout are still coming on strong. Fish the shoreline for redfish and trout.
HERNANDO COUNTY: Captain Frank Bourgeois, (352) 666-6234: Lots of smaller grouper are in the shallow areas that normally hold fish in fall and winter. The influx of larger fish has not happened, but is not far away. However, grouper, big sea bass and grunts are being caught.
KEATON BEACH: One More Cast guide service, (850) 584-9145: Lots of keeper trout were caught this week despite the winds. Fishing the falling tides took a lot of nice, big trout. Most were caught under a Cajun Thunder, with everything from live pinfish to a “chicken on a chain” worm.
HERNANDO BEACH: Captain Rick Rodriguez, (727) 992-9494: Different day, same story. 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 also are offshore.
FLY FISHING: A school of moving redfish is a real challenge to a fly angler. Just like ambushing a tarpon, you have to get in front of them and place the fly at their nose. Then hang on.
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