Go Fishing: On The Waterfront

Start early to beat the heat

By BILL MILLER

Our charters last week started early to beat the heat. Tarpon, at daylight, were the first target — and an easy one. Fishing the beaches of Manatee County or Tampa Bay, we have been jumping up to eight tarpon every morning…

Bite is as hot as the weather

By BILLY NOBLES

With the temps being hot, the water’s hot, so you’ve got to go deep.

Earlier this week I fished with Keith, Gene, Wade and Amy, and to be honest this was the first day we were able to fish on Tampa Bay since…

Weekly Fishing Report

By JIM LEE

Freshwater

Lots of rain is forecast for inland areas for next week. This is not all bad news; if you can find moving water, you will find fish. Fish early, as late might be wet. Lake Kissimmee grass and other lakes should show higher water levels. Panfish…

Tarpon treat in Hillsborough Bay

By MEL BERMAN

One of the joys of Florida fishing is the element of surprise. It has happened to all of us, and this past weekend John Leone and Steve Perry had their moment of excitement.

“We were basically just drifting some flats…

Weather starting to cooperate

By FRED EVERSON

The weather calmed a bit this week. The wind died down, and thunderstorms were minimal. However water clarity is still poor from the recent rains.

I went snapper fishing one day last week with Mike Strickland and Bird Glass of Riverview.…

Size Up Your Bait Situation

By RAY MARKHAM

It seems like every year there is a shuffling of the deck. In the fall, it is time for mullet to spawn, and once the spawn is complete the small fingerling mullet return to the back bays. But in summertime, scaled sardines,…

Tackle assortment pays off

By RAY MARKHAM

When scheduling tarpon trips, I’ll bring 8-to 17-pound class inshore rods rigged for fish we might target any other time of the year, like snook, trout, redfish, flounder and others. These rods are in addition to the 20-to 50-pound gear used for…

Warm water means longer runs

By RANDY ROCHELLE

Gulf water temperatures are on the rise and as we approach the 90-degree mark you’ll find the grouper bite inside of 70 feet will slow.

Red snapper also are feeling the heat and have started to push off into deeper water.…

Weather creating havoc

By MARK COOK

Reverse summertime patterns with morning thunderstorms and a prevailing west wind have created major headaches for fresh and saltwater anglers.

Lots of rain has caused the local rivers to rise dramatically, making things difficult for those trying to bank fish, and frequent…

Inshore fishing is on fire

By BILL MILLER

Inshore fishing in St. Joseph Sound and Clearwater Bay has been very good, despite the winds and rain.

Captain Craig Lahr took the “Hooked on Fishing” film crew out last week and put us on some good trout and redfish action.…