Fishing Reports

Update!!Read this!

2008-01-08T18:32:00.000-05:00

I will start posting the reports on my main site, Fishing4idiots! I will keep this site up for about 2 more weeks! Check Fishing4idiots every Thursday/Friday for the update!
Thanks for reading!
Alex

Fishing report for Dec. 28-31

2007-12-28T08:16:00.000-05:00

OFFSHORE

Offshore fishing has been good for grouper diggers. Consistent catches of quality fish are coming from depths ranging from 40-to 65-feet of water. Frozen baits like cigar minnow, squid, and Spanish sardines, when you can get them, are working well on gags. However, live baits like pinfish, grunts, squirrelfish, and fresh cut baits are also working well. Mangrove snapper fishing slowed a bit, but anglers fishing rock piles just outside the mouth of Tampa Bay near Egmont Key are finding a few mangos in the 3-pound class taking scaled sardines.

Spanish mackerel that seemed to disappear for a few days during the cold spell a week or so ago are back, but have thinned out. Macks ranging from a pound to 4-pounds or so are being caught on Diamond Jigs and silver spoons off the beaches. Winds out of the south and southeast that are predicted for the weekend could squelch the possibility of catching them this weekend. Higher winds will likely stir up coastal waters, pushing macks offshore. Bonito have also been in the catch on nearshore reefs and wrecks.

INSHORE

Southern waters in Sarasota have been productive for anglers this week. Capt. Jim Klopfer out of CB Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key reported good catches of bluefish, Spanish mackerel, trout, pompano, jacks and ladyfish in south Sarasota Bay on live shrimp, Cotee Jigs, and Exude soft plastic baits. Capt. Rick Grassett put his clients on a variety of fish on Sarasota Bay. Using Clouser Minnow flies, CAL Jigs with jerk worms and shad tails, and DOA Deadly Combos, Grassett’s anglers catch mirrored Klopfer’s and also included flounder and even saw some monster Spanish mackerel in the 7-to 8-pound range.

Dr. Harvey Partridge and I caught snook, trout, and redfish in the potholes in Terra Ceia Bay and lower Tampa Bay while fishing with me around the holidays. Using CAL Jigs with shad tails snook to 28-inches and redfish to 23-inches gave us good action on the incoming tide.

Anglers in the south region of the state are looking forward to the reopening of spotted seatrout season January 1. Guys working Clearwater Bay to Dunedin caught and released good numbers of trout in the 2-to 3-pound class on live shrimp and Series III TT MirrOlures. Productive trout waters in the North Region, north of Fred Howard Park produced trout to 5-pounds, but the top speckled trout waters have to be ranging well to the north on the Nature Coast between Homosassa and Crystal River. According to Capt. William Toney of www.homosassainshorefishing.com, the water temperature has taken the winter plunge, but great fishing can still be found especially on the warmer days. Progress Energy's hot water outflow is a good spot for a variety of species like redfish, trout, black drum, ladyfish, jacks and cobia. Live shrimp will catch plenty of fish but D.O.A. CAL Jigs with Shad tails on a quarter-ounce chartreuse jig head and MirrOLure TT series lures are working well. Be very careful of manatees in the area, as they are really showing up in good numbers there to enjoy the warmer waters of the power plant and the springs. He says Kings Bay in Crystal River has some good trout, jack, and ladyfish action early in the morning before the manatee divers come out. The south side of Mason Creek is holding plenty of redfish. Toney said the best way to catch them is on a fly rod using a crab pattern with dark colors tied with a little crystal flash. On the nearshore rock piles northwest of marker #2 out of Homosassa, Toney recommends that you look for sheepshead. He rigs a 2/0 Eagle Claw hook and quarter-ounce split shot with live shrimp to get the bite. High outgoing tide out of the Homosassa area will be early morning this weekend and water will remain generally low water though out the day there. For details on fishing and manatee tours in the area go to www.visitcitrus.com.

Fishing Report for December 21-23

2007-12-21T20:20:00.000-05:00

OFFSHORE

Our first real cold front blew in at the beginning of the week, having an affect on our fishing. Spanish and king mackerels that had been active on nearshore artificial reefs off Pinellas and Manatee counties moved offshore in the blow on Sunday, and the dropping temperatures for the following days drove them as well as other species into deeper water.

Grouper fishing that showed some good action from Pasco south in water depths less that 50-feet slowed. Gags began moving out beyond the 50-foot mark, but that move is more gradual than the pelagics. With deeper water, temperatures are slower to change, so grouper fishing will likely rebound with the warming temps seen toward the end of the week.

Another front is due in for the weekend with more wind, but the temperatures will remain mild. By Sunday, winds are predicted to be easterly, helping to flatten seas and clean nearshore waters. If so, look for the possibility of some Spanish mackerel or kings to be back.

INSHORE

Inshore snook fishing took a nose dive for a few days following last Sunday’s blow. Water temperatures dropped considerably, moving snook to deep water in residential canals, rivers, and creeks. The closed fishery for snook this time of year is for protection of the species when water temperatures get very cold. They get so lethargic in cold weather that it’s possible to literally pick up stunned fish with a dip net, thus the closure making possession illegal.

Redfish are loving this cooler weather. Reds moved around on the flats and sought deeper channels, potholes, and boat docks in rivers and canals, but they continued to hit jigs and live shrimp. Trout did much the same, and the warming trend for the weekend should bring fish back out on to the flats.

Cobia have begun to show inside Tampa Bay. As water temps fall, look for fish to begin showing close to warm water outfalls from the power plants. Presently they’re being spotted around channel and range markers. Grouper have been chewing in the Egmont Ship’s Channel and inside Tampa Bay in the channel just inside the Skyway Bridge. Mann’s Stretch 25 and 30 baits trolled on 50-to 80-pound Power Pro are taking gags to 15-pounds.

No fishing report this week.

2007-12-15T22:11:00.000-05:00

I am sorry, I was not able to fish this week. Due to some weather, and some family issues. Sorry for the bummer.. And I will be posting next weeks on Thursday. So please continue to visit me at Fishing4idiots and here! And have a great holiday season!

Fishing 4cast for December 7-10

2007-12-06T19:52:00.000-05:00

OFFSHORE

Water depths ranging from 40 to 65 feet have been productive for bottom fishing lately, with anglers hitting 80 feet for grouper in the greatest ratio of keeper size to shorts. The shallower stuff is holding good numbers, and if it’s a tug on the line you’re after, don’t run past the shallows to go deep. You’ll still find legal fish, but you’ll just have to return more shorts.

Capt. William Toney out of MacRae’s in Homosassa reported good action on shallow-water grouper in as skinny as 8 feet, but legal gags are beginning to head west with the cooler weather. More consistent catches of legal fish are coming from between 15 and 20 miles west of Chassahowitzka Point.

Cobia are in the catch for a number of anglers working the inshore and mid-range artificial reefs off Sarasota. Kingfish action is also available there, as well as north up the coast to Clearwater. Hard bottom off Sand Key is producing grunts, Spanish and king mackerel, and a few grouper.

INSHORE

Cool weather moved fish around this week, but with the warming trend ahead for the weekend, you can expect a good bite in the making. Look for trout action in the North Region to be quite good. Anglers working areas off Anclote Key to Hernando Beach are finding schools of trout weighing 2 pounds and more. Jigs and Shrimp fished under the clacking-cork rigs like the Cajun Thunder and DOA Clacker work well.

Specks in the South Region are biting well too, but the closed season puts a damper on targeting these tender fish. Silver trout are coming on strong as are whiting in south Tampa Bay. Deeper holes around Joe Bay and in the Manatee River are producing both species. Areas off Weedon Island and the power plant are holding silver trout in 14 to 22 feet of water. Jigs dropped to the bottom are producing some decent-size sand trout up to 17 inches along with the silvers.

Redfish have been cooperative in Terra Ceia as a number of over-slot fish have been caught. Several in the upper 30-inch range were caught near the mouth of the Manatee River along the Bulkhead on CAL Jigs with shad tails.

Good catch and release action on snook can be had while fishing live shrimp and DOA Shrimp. Linesiders have been moving back into residential canals and up the rivers this week on the approaching cold front. A warm-up could move fish back on to the flats for the weekend, but they won’t stray far from their winter headings.

Skipping pompano seem to have thinned out or disappeared in south Tampa Bay. Cooler nights could have moved the fish, but the Pinellas Point area held good numbers of fish prior to the front.

Fishing 4cast for November 30-December 3

2007-11-30T20:49:00.000-05:00

OFFSHORE

Grouper are scattered right now, according to reports from Gulf waters. Anglers fishing from Sarasota to Tarpon Springs are finding gags in water ranging from 20-to 80-feet, with no depth in particular producing best. North, from Pasco to Citrus counties, anglers are hitting gags in 4-to 25-feet of water, but the shallows, being the short run, are where many anglers have been targeting grouper. On a recent trip, Capt. William Toney fishing out of MacRae’s of Homosassa, scored 27 gags with a handful of keepers while fishing for a few hours. Toney has been casting Rapala lures for the gags that have been tipping the scales up to 18-pounds, but also employs a technique of chumming with small chunks of mullet. Most of the shallow fish are on limestone ledges or in tiny springs that dot the flats in the Crystal River/ Homosassa area. By chumming, the fish are pulled out of the holes, allowing the anglers to hook and pull them away from the rocky crevices.

Capt. Frank Bourgeois, fishing out of Hernando Beach reported as many as 70 gags on full day trips with about 10% keeper-sized fish to show for the efforts.

Capt. Larry McGuire out of Bradenton continues to hit gags and mangrove snapper in 95-feet of water, opting for the longer runs. While the deep water can still be productive for bottom drops, plenty of spots on the way out are producing kingfish up to 40-pounds as the kingfish run begins winding down.

Cobia have been on the list of species anglers are targeting on the nearshore reefs from St. Petersburg to Anclote Key. Live pinfish are working well for the cobes.

INSHORE

The action over the past week has been outstanding. Loads of big trout moved into Tampa and Sarasota Bays and took up residence in the potholes. Last weekend’s full moon produced some very low tides that nearly drained the bays of much of the water, leaving deeper holes to hold fish. These holes concentrated fish, making them easy targets. Redfish, snook, trout, flounder, and even cobia were found in the holes in Lower Tampa Bay. CAL Jigs with shad tails and 7MR MirrOlures were attractive to the big specks.

The Manatee River between Palmetto and Bradenton has been giving up some silver trout recently. The deep holes in the river of 14-feet and more are holding the small “sugar trout” as some call them. These tasty small fish put up quite a fight on light tackle. Love’s Lures tandem Jigs are a local favorite in white, pink, and silver, in both straight tail grubs and curly tails. The light rigs can also be tipped with shrimp when the bite slows a bit. Non-stop action can be the order of the day making it easy to get carried away with silvers, but these fish do not freeze well, so limit your catch to a fresh meal or two for best flavor.

Pompano were skipping on the edges of the bars in Sarasota and Tampa Bays. Capt. Rick Grassett, fishing out of CB Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, caught pompano to 3 ½ pounds on jigs and flies on the Sarasota Bay Middle Ground flats. Anglers fishing from the Sunshine Skyway Fishing Piers also bagged some pompano using fiddler crabs and Doc’s Goofy Jigs. Capt. Rick Frazier, out of Mastry’s Bait and Tackle in St. Petersburg reported pompano being taken around Pinellas Point near the Clam Bar.

Veteran fly guide, Capt. Paul Hawkins out of St. Petersburg has been targeting black drum to 50-pounds on fly. Hawkins has been stalking the big shovel tails around the flats in Boca Ciega and Tampa Bay on low tides. Redfish have also been on his catch list that looks like a laundry list of who’s who in the fish books. Snook, permit, trout, redfish, bluefish, bonefish, tarpon, Spanish mackerel, kingfish, cobia, black drum, pompano, and others will take a fly and Hawkins has done it. The St. Petersburg guide may be reached through his website at www.flatsguy.com.

November 23-26

2007-11-22T19:16:00.000-05:00

OFFSHORE

Better weather this week allowed anglers to head offshore for some grouper, kingfish, and a cornucopia of others. It seems like the kings scattered on last week’s blow, but lighter winds with a slight switch to an easterly component could put more bait on the beaches for the holiday weekend. Spoons trolled on planers and flat lines are working well, but for this full moon week with tides running at a pretty decent clip, anchoring up and chumming with frozen chum blocks is a sure bet for bringing fish to the boat. Set out a live blue runner free lined and your set for some action.

Grouper have been caught anywhere from 40-to 140-feet of water off Pinellas and Pasco. Areas from Hernando to Citrus are producing some excellent shallow water action on gags. Depths ranging from 6-to 10-feet are predictably good. Cast or trolled Bombers, Mann’s Stretch lures, MirrOlures, and Rapalas are taking gags to 20-pounds.

INSHORE

The remaining days of the open season snook season could be prime in the wee hours just before sunrise and several hours into the incoming morning tide.

Negative low tides this weekend will be perfect for kayakers, canoes, and wade fishers. Look for potholes and channel edges to be very productive. It’ll be like shooting fish in a barrel when it comes to catching fish on the negatives…so go barbless for those closed-season spotted seatrout in the south region that you will undoubtedly catch and release. Trout in lower Tampa Bay tipped the scales at over 5-pounds this week.

Bluefish have been ravaging schools of baitfish and trout in potholes in Tampa Bay. Jigs worked quickly will give you a dose of the blues when you lose a load of jig heads to the sharp teeth these vicious fish have.

Whiting have made a good showing in the Manatee River along with redfish and flounder. Jigs worked on the bottom have been working well.

November 09-12, 2007

2007-11-08T19:54:00.000-05:00

OFFSHORE

This past week has been a blowout for most charter skippers looking to do offshore runs, but in the few days that were fishable, Spanish mackerel and kingfish have been active. Schools of large macks are being caught on most of the artificial reefs from Sarasota to Clearwater. Spanish in the 5-pound range are being caught. Clearwater Beach Marina reported good action on Spanish in 30-to 50-feet of water west of Clearwater Pass while working over hard bottom areas. Gag grouper just undersized and a few in the legal size range are also being caught over the Sand Key hard bottom.

Hernando county guide Frank Bourgeois of www.alwaysfishing.com fishing out of Hernando Beach reported excellent trout fishing on the deep grass flats in 8-to 10-feet of water. Spanish mackerel have been plentiful on the artificial reefs and at the tank in 22-feet of water. Bourgeois also reported some excellent grouper action while fishing jigs in shallow water for trout.

In Bradenton reported good action in 50-feet of water for kingfish, gag and red grouper, mangrove snapper, and cobia.

West Coast anglers are primed for the Old Salt King Fall of the Beach Tournament this weekend, being held at the Madeira Beach ball field at 200 Rex Place. The Captain’s Party and meeting will be Thursday, November 8 at 6 p.m. Tournament fishing on Saturday will conclude with the weigh-in at the ball field. Anglers will be vying for cash and prizes that benefit area charities. For information, go to the Old Salt website at www.oldsaltfishing.org.

INSHORE

In Crystal River I caught trout to 24-inches while fishing the flats west of the river. Messier has also been concentrating on snook in the Salt River and catching legal fish on Zoom Flukes, Berkley Power Baits and Gulp, and Bass Assassin Jerk baits rigged on the combination of Long Neck DOA worm hooks with Pinch Weights from DOA.

Out of CB Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key reported good action on trout while fishing Terra Ceia Bay.

Tampa Bay water temps fell to the low 60’s this week as a cold front passed, reducing the snook bite to a nibble. Cooler water temps have pushed the bite later into the day after water temperatures rose above 68-degrees in some areas. Top spots include areas with dark muddy bottoms that absorb the sun’s rays quickly, raising the water temperature.

Good Spanish mackerel fishing inside the Egmont Ship’s Channel has been the norm for anglers tossing Gotcha Jigs, spoons, and feather jigs.

Redfish schools have been smaller this week and fish have been more skittish in the shallow water. Good catches of reds in the low-to-mid range slot are being caught on CAL Shad tail jigs in the Weedon Island area, along the South Shore near Ruskin, and in Terra Ceia.

Catch and release speckled trout fishing has been excellent, despite the drop in water temperature. DOA Deadly Combinations and DOA Shrimp in the new “Carbonated” colors are attracting excellent numbers of trout up to 22-inches in the lower part of Tampa Bay in potholes and channels on lower tides.

4cast for November 2-5

2007-11-01T16:48:00.000-04:00

OFFSHORE

Winds this week made it difficult for anglers working Gulf waters to venture far offshore, but nearshore waters have been alive with king and Spanish mackerel, bluefish and bonito. The prevailing winds have been northeast, allowing flat seas close to shore making for clearer waters near the beaches. Bait schools, attracted to the clean water moved in on the beaches, balling up in schools, attracting pelagics. Kings have been working the schools, but Spanish, bonito and bluefish have all been horning in on the feeding frenzy.

The Skyway Fishing Piers have been hot! What should be fish caught offshore are right here for the pickings. Keeper gag grouper and king mackerel in the 20-pound range are being caught from the piers, along with mangrove snapper and sharks. If you’re an offshore addict, throw your heavy spinning rod in the car and head for the piers. Windy predictions for the weekend could make this the place to be for both inshore and offshore action.

INSHORE

Getting beyond last Friday’s full moon has been like zero change. Overcast skies with rain and a fluctuating barometer have put fish on a feeding binge for the past week. Snook turned on and reds were schooling on the open flats with monster bruisers on the flats around Anclote Key, at Pinellas Point, and on the South Shore of Tampa Bay from Apollo Beach to the mouth of the Manatee River.

The real deal, however has been the trout bite—excellent action from slot-size trout and oversize fish. Trout fishing has been stellar for anglers tossing shrimp. Live shrimp are working well under popping corks, but pinfish are nailing the offering before many trout get a shot at the bite sized morsel. The D.O.A. Shrimp is not as attractive to the pinfish, but inquisitive pinners take a look, give them a nip, and more importantly attract gator trout to the bait. The addition of a clacking cork like the rig D.O.A. offers in the Deadly Combo creates a feeding sound that adds to the fish calling ability of this already tasty bait.

As mentioned in the Offshore section, grouper, Spanish and king mackerel, and bluefish have been hitting in lower Tampa Bay. Pompano have been scattered but caught off the Skyway Fishing Piers on both sides by anglers tossing Doc’s Goofy Jigs. Tarpon have still been working around the bridges, feeding on bait fish.

4cast for October 26-28, 2007

2007-10-25T18:05:00.000-04:00

OFFSHORE

Pelagic action nearshore is taking the limelight this week. A strong bite has been on nearly every day with Spanish mackerel to 4 or 5-pounds, kingfish to 20, and bonito up to 12-pounds has been reported. Fishing out of CB Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key has been working west of Big Sarasota Pass and Point of Rocks in 25-feet of water. Trolling with Mann’s Stretch 25 plugs, Ryan’s clients have been catching loads of Spanish and king mackerel. The bonito, (a.k.a. LT, little tunny, false albacore), have been voraciously feeding on baitfish schools in the area and the trolled lures are working well.

Spanish mackerel, kings, and bonito still continue to hit on the nearshore reefs off Pinellas. Both fish and bait schools seem to thin out at mid-range areas.

Once again, anglers are tuning up for the largest kingfish tournament on the West Coast. The Old Salt Fall King of the Beach Tournament is slated to run November 8 and 10 this year at the Madeira Beach Ball Field at 200 Rex Place in Madeira Beach. Numerous prizes abound in this tournament that benefits the Children’s Dream Fund, TASCO, and PARC. A guaranteed $10,000 cash payout to first place, plus cash prizes paid back for the first 25 places. Twenty-fifth place pays out $5,000 cash, and custom Dogfish Sticks will be awarded for 26 through 35th place winners. Separate single engine division prizes are available with bonus money of $500 from Mastry Engine Center for a Yanmar powered vessel with the largest fish. For details, go to www.oldsaltfishing.org

Grouper fishing has been good overall but fish continue to move, making targeting them a little difficult. A cold front with some “teeth” could bring fish into normal depths for this time of year and have them settle in for awhile as the water temperature declines. Good depths recently for gags have ranged from 45-to 65-feet of water west of shore from Sarasota to Pasco Counties, and from 15-to 25-feet of water from Hernando north to Citrus Counties, but for local waters, normal depth ranges should be between 25 and 50-feet right now. Just work some hard bottom areas where you typically find kingfish in the fall and it’s a good bet you’ll find a few gags as well. Good action from Hernando Beach west of Weeki Wachee was reported by anglers working 25-to 30-feet of water with Mann’s Stretch 25 plugs and gold Bomber lures.

One of the new lipped Rapala X-Raps has been a shining bait for Homosassa guides working out of MacRae’s and Homosassa Riverside. Just to the south between Homosassa and Weeki Wachee, guides running out of David Strickland’s Chassahowitzka River Lodge are experience similar action. For area information contact www.visitcitrus.com.

INSHORE

Trout fishing has been nothing short of stellar from Sarasota to Tarpon Springs in the South Region. Larger fish and greater numbers seem to be moving in inside bays over the past couple of weeks. Terra Ceia and areas of the lower Tampa Bay area have experienced an influx of good numbers of fish ranging up to 22-inches. The DOA Deadly Combo has been taking some of the best catches with the new “Carbonate Series” colors of shrimp on the clacking rigs. The season draws to a close next week on October 31 for two months in the South Region. Anglers catching trout south of the Pinellas/ Pasco line must release all speckled trout after that.

Excellent catches of Spanish mackerel have been reported inside Tampa Bay. Out of Ruskin reported macks to 4-pounds in the bay. Siesta Key reported some good action inshore while fishing live shrimp and Exude RT Slugs between Blackburn Point and Stickney Point in Sarasota. Klopfer reported some activity on jack crevalle, ladyfish, and mangrove snapper in the area as well.

Redfish catches continue to shine in the northern reaches of West Central from Hernando to Citrus County. Capt. William Toney reported some great action with both reds and trout on the CAL Shad and DOA glow Shrimp while fishing barrier islands between Chassahowitzka Point and the Crystal River Power Plant.

Fishing Report for 10/19-10/23

2007-10-18T20:25:00.000-04:00

OFFSHORE

Grouper fishing has been strong this past week with anglers working depths in the 50-to 85-foot range from Sarasota to Hernando Beach landing grouper up to 12-pounds. Out in Madeira Beach reported some great action this week on his bottom fishing trips. Fishing 50-to 60-feet of water out of John’s Pass, Zalewski had new anglers from Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing! aboard and boated gag grouper to 12-pounds, triggerfish, snapper, barracuda, trout, grunts, and others while dropping live and frozen baits. They also did some nearshore fishing on artificial reefs. Sore arms and smiling faces were the result of the day’s fishing. A few red grouper are still coming from cheese bottom southwest of Pinellas but the bulk of the fish caught have been gags.

Mangrove snapper fishing has been good on artificial reefs. Spanish and king mackerel have also moved in to chew on bait schools that are thick. Blue runners, threadfins, and Spanish sardines jigged up on sabiki rigs have been mainstays for live baiters. Spoons trolled at about 5-to 6-knots for both Spanish and kings have been raking in some big Spanish. There has been good action on trolling King Spoons behind numbers 1 and 2 planers and catching a few kings, but the Spanish have been tearing up the spoons. Macks in the 4-to 5-pound size are coming over the gunnels from the inshore reefs off Pinellas. The St. Pete. Beach, Treasure Island, and Madeira Beach reefs are all holding bonito, king, and Spanish mackerel, according to Zalewski. The South County Reef produced mostly bonito. In Bradenton reported good action with smoker kingfish in 65-feet of water while dropping live blue runners.

INSHORE

Bay area waters have been lit up with action this week. Look for it to continue as the mild weather graces the Suncoast. Spanish mackerel and kingfish have been working the beaches from Sarasota to Clearwater, with spotty action more north. Inshore waters inside Tampa and Sarasota Bays have been holding bluefish, Spanish mackerel, jack crevalle, and hordes of ladyfish. Jigs and spoons are effective when worked quickly. The occasional cobia is being spotted around range markers in Tampa Bay.

Trout fishing has picked up in depths of water 3-to 6-feet deep off Pinellas Point and the Clam Bar. Love’s Lures Tandem Jigs in pink, white, and clear/silver glitter are producing. The DOA Deadly Combination has been effective on trout in Sarasota Bay for Capt. Rick Grassett. His clients are working Buttonwood Harbor, Long Bar, and the flats of the Middle Grounds in Sarasota Bay and finding trout to 18-inches and better.

Snook action is heating up along the Suncoast. Night fishing around docks inside passes has been terrific for fly anglers tossing glass minnow patterns. I had stellar days on snook and redfish in Charlotte Harbor in Bull and Turtle Bays using an Estaz Maribou Minnow on 7 and 8 wt. fly rods.

Reds in the upper Tampa Bay are have been active just east of Weedon Island on the bar on rising tide. MirrOmullet walking baits from MirrOlure are catching reds to 8-pounds there.

4cast for October 12-14, 2007

2007-10-13T10:48:00.000-04:00

OFFSHORE

Don’t look now, but this front that is moving down from the Panhandle at week’s end is pushing kingfish southward. Scattered reports of kings being caught began last weekend. Wrecks and reefs offshore that are holding bait were the sites of much of the action, but trollers looking for Spanish mackerel were racking up a few kings. Other anglers using flatlines with spoons, and slow-trolled live baits on downriggers produced a few kings. The Panhandle has a weather warning for Thursday, meaning that the weather is on the way, and the anticipated front headed here will bring cooler weather Thursday night and Friday, pushing more kings this way.

Grouper action is continuing from the 50-to 85-foot depths with good reports. Fish have been small, but smokers are on the way. Anglers working the Egmont Shipping channel edges with trolled baits are finding gag grouper to 12-pounds from Egmont Key into Tampa Bay. Anglers hitting the M.O.B. buttons on their bottom machines are returning to the hook-up spot, anchoring up, and dropping live pinfish to the bottom, lighting up gags.

Mangrove snapper are biting around rock piles and rubble from the old Skyway Bridge just off both of the Skyway Fishing Piers. Live shrimp are getting chewed but pinfish will take more than the mangos if that’s all you’re trying to use. Small scaled sardines netted off the pier will work better.

INSHORE

Changes are on the way for the weekend. Our first fall cold front is on the way. Expect a mild cooler breeze for the next several days, invigorating fish on the flats. Trout fishing has improved with the temperature dropping the past several weeks. Tampa Bay waters have hit the low 80’s in the morning and mid-80’s by late afternoon. Morning water temps should hit the upper 70’s by the weekend. The morning low tide at mid-morning should produce some excellent action for redfish. Look for reds in deeper potholes on the flats and on channel edges where runouts drain off the flat.

Anglers have had an unexpected run of late season tarpon. From Clearwater to Charlotte Harbor, poons from 10-to 110-pounds have been caught. Excellent action on fly with tarpon, redfish, and snook while fishing Charlotte Harbor.

Fishing out of CB Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, reported a frenzied hot bite from little tunny and Spanish mackerel on fly while fishing the beaches. Running out to 30-feet of water, Grassett and his clients got in on a feeding ruckus. Skyrocketing kingfish, tarpon, sharks, Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and bonito were all blasting schools of bait in a melee that continued for more than 15-minutes. Inside Sarasota Bay, Grassett said trout to 22-inches were crashing DOA Shrimp rigged on the Deadly Combo rig. Also, CAL Curly tailed Jigs have been producing bluefish and redfish near Buttonwood Harbor.

The flats off Dunedin have been producing nice speckled trout on plugs. Series III TTR MirrOlure slow-sinking baits fished in 5-to 7 feet of water have been productive on trout to 20-inches. Love’s Lures Tandem rigs have been taking school-sized trout to 18-inches.

On the flats just west of Chassahowitzka Point off Citrus County, reported catching some redfish over the slot and trout pushing 6-pounds and 26-inches in length-- and lots of them on the DOA Deadly Combo. Reds continue to school in the area on the high tides. Live shrimp have been effective on reds along with CAL Shads and MirrOlure She Pups. Capt. Jody Johnson guided Capt. Dan Clymer to a grand slam, (snook, trout, and redfish) while fishing near the mouth of the Homosassa River last weekend during a charity tournament being run out of the Shed at MacRae‘s of Homosassa. Snook are considered a tropical species and not native to or that plentiful in the Crystal River/ Homosassa area, thousands are found in the Homosassa Wildlife Park springs in the winter. To the south, off Hernando Beach, grass flats are producing some oversized redfish. For area information on the web, go to www.visitcitrus.com.