Redfish
Posts: 482
 
Location: Tampa Bay | Weekly Fishing Report
By JIM LEE
Posted October 23, 2008 by The Tampa Tribune
Freshwater:
Down south, lakes such as Istokpoga are getting specks, while anglers are still catching bluegill. Bass action is excellent all over the state, but Istokpoga is producing an occasional 9-pounder. Crank baits and spinners still work early on; then go to a worm down under. The weekend will be mixed — good before the front, slow after it blows through.
LAKE TARPON: Tarpon Tom’s Fresh and Saltwater Bait & Tackle, (727) 772-0708: Bass action is very good on artificial lures and shiners. Live bait is coming on stronger. Some speckled perch are being caught. The bluegill bite is still viable for anglers who go after them. Artificial (dark color) worms work best after the sun comes up. A topwater lure or spinner will take bass before sunup.
LORIDA-ISTOKPOGA: Trails End Fishing Resort guide service, (863) 655-0134: Bass, bluegill and specks are being caught. Most bass are 2 to 4 pounds, with an occasional 6- to 9-pounder brought in. Specks are large and are being taken trolling jigs or minnows. Some bluegill and a few shellcracker are still biting.
OKEECHOBEE, THE WEST WALL: It could be better, and will be again someday. but now the lake level is too low to fish. However, seine nets are allowed to take bluegill and shellcracker in the middle of the lake. 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: Keep the faith and you still can catch a bluegill. No specks yet, but hopefully they will start in soon. Bass action is good, with mostly 2- and 3-pounders taken, but a 6-pounder is a good possibility.
Saltwater:
Breeder reds are offshore, and kingfish and mackerel are just outside the barrier islands. Snook are eating like it’s Thanksgiving in the creeks and rivers. Grouper are in closer, and big black sea bass are being caught along with large mangrove snapper offshore. Then there are redfish, big trout and cobia. Fall fishing is at its very best.
10,000 ISLANDS: Captain Cory McMillin, (239) 695-4420: Snook have been very good lately. With the winds and cooler weather, this is really the time to fish the 10,000 Islands. A few larger fish are starting to eat. Good redfish catches continue.
SARASOTA: Captain Rick Grassett, (941) 923-7799: Hot times off the beaches. Siesta and Lido Key on the outside are producing little tunny (bonito) and lots of mackerel. They are being caught on flies, jigs and topwater lures. On the inside deeper flats, blues, trout and snook are being caught. Inshore slams (snook, trout and redfish) are possible now; one was taken by an angler this week.
SUN CITY, BISHOPS HARBOR & COCKROACH BAY: John’s Bait & Tackle, (813) 376-1127: Captain John’s new “soon to be on the water” bait shop will be located at Cockroach Bay.
RUSKIN: South Shore Bait & Tackle, (813) 641-2010: Redfish, snook and trout are the South Shore fish to catch on the inside. Lots of mackerel are around the Sunshine Skyway and on the inside of the bridge. Kingfish are being caught on the outside of the Skyway, a little ways out. Cockroach Bay is a hot area for reds and snook. Live shrimp is still the best bait.
WESTERN SHORE AND SKYWAY AREA: Captain Sergio Atanes, (813) 973-7132: Lots of mackerel are being caught around the artificial reef at Port Manatee, and schools of 60- to 80-pound tarpon are in the same area. Fish the ships channel for keeper grouper. Good trout schools are off Pinellas Point. One 38-inch snook was caught and released using a piece of cut ladyfish on the bottom. Nice trout are the new target.
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. This will happen soon.
SOUTH PINELLAS: Captain Paul Hawkins, (727) 560-6762: Redfish, trout and snook are the main events. However, mackerel are everywhere. Trout are sizing up to much larger fish. Reds are still schooling, and the snook bite is better. Pompano and small permit are still in the passes and off the beaches.
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: 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: Redfish are the staple from Weedon Island to Rocky Creek. Trout are moving into the upper bay, which can make your day. Snook are also moving up into the upper bay winter haunts. A few pompano and mackerel are available.
CLEARWATER to DUNEDIN: Captain Brian Mathey, (727) 667-8291: Great trolling action off the beaches with mackerel and kingfish. Night snook trips are excellent. The rivers, creeks and residential dock areas are holding redfish. Big trout are still coming on the flats. Fish the shoreline for redfish and trout.
TARPON SPRINGS: Captain Rich Knox, (727) 376-8809: Fishing the north end of Anclote Key produced redfish and snook. Most of the snook were up in the river, and some were monsters. The Dunedin Reef was holding large mangrove snapper, mackerel and cobia. Fish the 30-foot mark for keeper grouper. Schools of huge redfish are also offshore.
HERNANDO COUNTY: Captain Frank Bourgeois, (352) 666-6234:Catches of 50 to 60 grouper are the norm, with several keeper-sized fish part of the catch. Up to 90 percent of the catch is red grouper, but the keeper-sized fish were gags. Large black sea bass and large triggerfish are also being caught.
KEATON BEACH: One More Cast guide service, (850) 584-9145: Although some say the trout slowed a bit, lots of keepers were caught. Lots of limits on keeper-sized trout. One lucky angler hung a 7-foot tarpon on a bait caster with 14-pound line. After sounding and lots of aerial maneuvers (including a smoked thumb), he finally broke off.
HERNANDO BEACH: Captain Rick Rodriguez, (727) 992-9494: Grouper fishing is great, with more than 100 fish — and a few keepers thrown in. Kingfish are showing offshore along with lots of mackerel. Mangrove snapper grunts and black sea bass and grunts are the easy catches.
FLY FISHING: Lower Tampa Bay has schools of 50- to 80-pound tarpon. Offshore, huge schools of monster redfish are moving up and down the coast. Kingfish (really fun on a 6-weight rod) are just offshore a bit. The Sunshine Skyway bridge area offers mackerel and kings.
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