Kingfish
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Location: Tampa Bay | Weekly Fishing Report
By JIM LEE
Posted October 01, 2009 by The Tampa Tribune
Freshwater
Bluegill catches were way down this week, except in Lake Okeechobee. Specks are starting to be fished for as bluegill scatter. The first cool weather will prompt specks to start bunching up. Bass action is improving in most areas. No very large fish have been reported.
HILLSBOROUGH RIVER: Hong Kong Willie, (813) 770-4794: Fish the Hillsborough River for bass and bluegill. Catfish catches continue to be good. Huge garfish can still be caught, but hurry before winter arrives. Gar from 12 to 20 pounds are lurking in the wide, calm corners of the river; ask Joe how to catch them. Speckled perch will soon be breaking out big time in the By-Pass Canal.
LAKE TARPON: Tarpon Tom’s Fresh and Saltwater Bait & Tackle, (727) 772-0708: Bass have turned on better than earlier in the year. Bass to 5 pounds are being caught. More specks are being caught as bluegill anglers shift gears from bluegill to speckled perch. Night fishing is still the best for good bass catches.
KISSIMMEE CHAIN: Grape Hammock Fish Camp, (863) 692-1500: Bass have turned on better than earlier in the year. Bass 3 to 5 pounds are being caught on artificial lures. More specks are being caught as bluegill anglers shift their attention to them. Bluegill can still be caught, but in much lower numbers.
LORIDA-ISTOKPOGA: Trails End Fishing Resort guide service, (863) 655-0134: Specks are being caught on minnows at night. Bluegill are passé. Bass anglers are beginning to take to the lake, so bass catches are improving.
LAKE OKEECHOBEE: J & S Fish Camp, (772) 597-4455 Bass action should get better as fall moves into winter. Speckled perch are not prevalent yet, but bluegill are still being taken in good numbers. The water level of the lake is up, so if we don’t have a threat of a hurricane, it should remain good for the winter.
LAKE PANASOFFKEE: Pana Vista Lodge, (352) 793-2061: Bluegill are still being caught mostly trolling with beetlespin-type lures. Bass action is getting better and hopefully the specks will take hold soon.
Saltwater
The fall run has started. Flounder have moved into Tampa Bay and other places. Ladyfish are going crazy. Mackerel are everywhere, and bluefish, redfish, jack crevalle and ladyfish are schooling. Snook season is open. Red grouper are the big catch offshore along with mangrove snapper. Some trigger fish are also being caught.
10,000 ISLANDS: Captain Cory McMillin, (239) 695-4420: Fish just on the inside deep spots and holes where the water moves well for big snook. On the outside, fish the points and shallow holes for snook and redfish. Reds are also schooling on the flats. Finger mullet and greenbacks are the prime baits.
SARASOTA: Captain Rick Grassett, (941) 350-9790 or (941) 923-7799: Snook action is increasing. Redfish are schooling along with mackerel, jacks and ladyfish.
SUN CITY, BISHOPS HARBOR & COCKROACH BAY: John’s Bait & Tackle, (813) 376-1127: Soon to be back on the water with live bait in a couple weeks. Snook, ladyfish, redfish and mangrove snapper are the easy catches. Mackerel are in the bay.
RUSKIN: South Shore Bait & Tackle, (813) 641-2010: Redfish have been one of the main targets. Snook have had lockjaw for a while, but you can catch them. Mangrove snapper are the easy catch for supper. Mackerel and bluefish are in the bay.
WESTERN SHORE AND SKYWAY AREA: Captain Sergio Atanes, (813) 973-7132: Snook and reds have not been biting well. However, mackerel, bluefish and small tarpon are hot. Ladyfish are the fun fish that are also schooling now. You can still catch mangrove snapper and flounder.
UPPER TAMPA BAY: Denny B’s Quality Bait & Tackle, (813) 885-9811: Fish the creek and canal mouths for snook on the moving tides. Redfish are often in the same places as snook. Watch for schools of reds.
SOUTH PINELLAS: Captain Paul Hawkins, (727) 560-6762: Tarpon are still available if you look for them. One 130-pound tarpon was taken on a fly last week. Snook, mackerel and reds are the easy catches. Mangrove snapper and flounder are the best table fare you can catch now.
FISHING PIERS : South Pier, (941) 729-0117: Pier fishing offers most of the current species being caught in the bay. Fish the pier for mangrove snapper, redfish, flounder, mackerel and even 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 deep sea fishing extravaganza. Fish the deeper waters for grouper, mangrove snapper and gray snapper (grunt). You also might catch porgies and amberjack on longer trips. Grouper are open, but with limits. The extended and overnight trips will produce the best catches of amberjack and big mangrove snapper.
GANDY BAIT & TACKLE: (813) 839-5551: The Gandy Bridge is closed to fishing. However, Gandy Bait and Tackle is the place to go in this area for live bait and tackle. Snook, black drum, redfish and mackerel are in the bay. Fish the Weedon Island area for trout and redfish. Ladyfish are everywhere. Live greenbacks will fool anybody.
CLEARWATER TO DUNEDIN: Captain Brian Mathey, (727) 667-8291: Mackerel on the outside, redfish and flounder on the inside. You also can catch a small, stray kingfish offshore too. Mangrove snapper are in the deep holes and rocks.
HERNANDO COUNTY: Captain Frank Bourgeois, (352) 666-6234: Offshore grouper catches are good in 50 to 60 feet. You can catch them in closer, but most will be undersized. The offshore grass beds in 8 to 15 feet of water are full of short trout; that is a good sign. Mackerel, bonito and mangrove snapper are being caught. Fish the inshore reefs for flounder. Freshwater bass charters are doing well.
HERNANDO BEACH: Captain Rick Rodriguez, (727)-992-9494: Fish the 12-hour charters to 50 and 60 feet for big keeper grouper. Catch a mixed bag of keepers and shorts in closer. Troll for grouper in 30 to 40 feet for reel-ripping, rod-bending action.
FLY FISHING: There are still some large and lots of small creek tarpon off which to bounce a fly. Redfish, blues, mackerel, jacks and ladyfish are schooling and make great targets. Snook are one of the big events for light-weight fly anglers. A snook is like a bass on steroids; they are big, bad and ugly.
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Weekly Fishing Report 10/1 - Jim Lee | TBO
