Kingfish
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Location: Tampa Bay | Weekly Fishing Report
By JIM LEE
Posted December 26, 2008 by The Tampa Tribune
Freshwater:
Lake Istokpoga is one of the few lakes reporting some very large bass being taken. Speckled perch are still best caught at night, but you can catch some big slabs trolling jigs.
LAKE TARPON: Tarpon Tom’s Fresh and Saltwater Bait & Tackle, (727) 772-0708: Bass are beginning to move into shallower waters in preparation for the spawn. This means the males will be getting the beds ready soon. Big bass will come later in the season. Slow-troll a spinner bait or use a Rat-L-Trap or similar lure. Liver shiners are best.
KISSIMMEE CHAIN: Grape Hammock Fish Camp, (863) 692-1500: Bass will be bedding soon; that’s why most are catching the smaller males. Speck catches are not up to par yet, but should get better soon. Night action for specks is best.
LORIDA-ISTOKPOGA: Trails End Fishing Resort guide service, (863) 655-0134: Night speck fishing is the way to go. Some bass to 9 pounds have been taken recently. Live shiners are the sure way to catch bass.
OKEECHOBEE, THE WEST WALL: One of the finest fishing lakes in the U.S. is still too low, with no end in sight. Some bass and bluegill can be caught in the Rim Canal.
LAKE PANASOFFKEE: Pana Vista Lodge, (352) 793-2061: Good-sized specks are being taken again this year. Numbers are in the limit-out size, but dinner can be served. Bass action is good, with mostly 2- to 3-pounders.
Saltwater:
Inshore catches are excellent for trout, redfish, a few flounder, lots of sheepshead and a few snook. Offshore is great in 50 to 60 feet of water, with red and gag grouper biting well. Fishing the wrecks and pipeline, good numbers of greater amberjack are being caught. Red snapper are so thick they are a nuisance; one boat released 60 red snapper in one day to 20 pounds.
10,000 ISLANDS: Captain Cory McMillin, (239) 695-4420: Great snook action on the medium to small fish. Large lunkers are still holed up in the back country.
SARASOTA: Captain Rick Grassett, (941) 923-7799: Use jigs or flies for excellent catches in Sarasota Bay, which is the hot spot for trout, bluefish and some redfish. Pompano are on the deeper flats, swash channels and beaches. A Doc’s Jig or other short white or yellow fly will catch them. On jigs, bite off the front part of a white grub to make it shorter; that also works well.
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, with lots of greenbacks in stock. Big sheepshead are being brought to the dock. Shrimp, fiddlers and frozen fiddlers work well. Fish the pot holes and deep areas. A few redfish are also being caught.
RUSKIN: South Shore Bait & Tackle, (813) 641-2010: Sheepshead are still the main catch in a lot of areas, especially around bridges and docks. Snook are biting as the days warm. Use live bait. Grouper are still being caught in the ships channel.
WESTERN SHORE AND SKYWAY AREA: Captain Sergio Atanes, (813) 973-7132: Sheepshead can make your day. There are some areas where the big striped bandits will take your bait easily. You might not hook them, but they will get your bait. The Port Manatee ships channel is producing lots of grouper.
UPPER TAMPA BAY: Denny B’s Quality Bait & Tackle, (813) 885-9811: Redfish are the mainstay. Some resident snook can be caught in the creek mouths and up Canal A.
SOUTH PINELLAS: Captain Paul Hawkins, (727) 560-6762: Trout, redfish and pompano are keeping many anglers busy. Fish the oyster bars and spoil islands for redfish. Pompano are in the channels, deep flats and off the beaches.
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: Lots of whiting are being caught. Flounder is the other winter fish up in the bay. Mullet are thick, and trout are catch-and-release only.
TARPON SPRINGS: Captain Rich Knox, (727) 376-8809: Big trout have been the mainstay of this area, excluding the power plant. When the new cold front hits, the power-plant run-off area will jump into action again. Pompano, redfish, snook, trout, jacks and ladyfish can be caught on cold days at the power plants.
HERNANDO COUNTY: Captain Frank Bourgeois, (352) 666-6234: A hot time in the Gulf on Thursday. Keeper gag grouper, keeper mangrove snapper, very large black sea bass and grunt were caught. Action was non-stop on short red and gag grouper.
KEATON BEACH: One More Cast guide service, (850) 584-9145: Lots of keeper trout — many longer than 20 inches — were taken over the holiday. Most were taken on plastic or live bait under Cajun Thunder floats. Offshore weather was good, but no report on grouper. However, all you need are chicken gizzards (or squid) and you will catch grouper.
HERNANDO BEACH: Captain Rick Rodriguez, (727) 992-9494: Grouper (mostly gag keepers) and lots of nice mangrove snapper are being caught. Now is an excellent time to fish offshore between the fronts.
FLY FISHING: Strike while the iron is hot and catch 24-inch trout on flies. Action is almost non-stop.
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Weekly Fishing Report - Jim Lee | TBO
