Florida Fishing Reports Roundup

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Florida Fishing Reports Roundup Click for Michael Wilson's Lakeland Ledger Florida Fishing Report By JIM LEE, The Tampa Tribune Posted 8.8.08 Click here for the Freshwater Report Saltwater Fish the 40- to 50-foot depths for good grouper, grunt and black sea bass catches. Mangrove snapper catches are best at night and can be caught in 25 to 35 feet of water in some areas. Off Pinellas you might have to go 40 to 60 feet for mangrove snapper. Night fishing for mangroves is still the best way to limit out (see Hernando Beach report). Tarpon, trout and redfish are still being caught most everywhere. Occasional cobia might grace the waters you are in, so be prepared. Pompano are on and off and on again at the bridges and are being caught in the surf and passes. Snook are where you find them and are still a release fish. Scallops are still available in limit numbers. 10,000 ISLANDS: Captain Cory McMillin, (239) 695-4420: Snook are a great summer catch, but the redfish population is even better. Fish the points at the creek mouths on the outside for redfish. Offshore, cobia and a few permit; however, mangrove snapper offshore are the big catch to go for. Bait is easy to find, but you might want to bring a few live shrimp just in case. Fish the inside creeks for creek tarpon. BOCA GRANDE: There are still tarpon at Boca Grande Pass and on the beaches. If you haven’t tried Boca Grande tarpon fishing, do so before it is gone for another year. SARASOTA: Captain Rick Grassett, (941) 923-7799: At Sarasota Bay, seeing a pod of 55- to 65-pound tarpon on a school of glass minnows meant the fight was on. Grassett and his angler tried a dozen different flies but finally settled on a Grassett snook minnow before they had a taker. A 60-pound tarpon took the fly with a No. 4 hook, which is way too small for a tarpon, but the angler landed and released the fish. RUSKIN: South Shore Bait & Tackle, (813) 641-2010: Simmons Park is a great place for redfish, cobia and trout. Fish the Sunshine Skyway bridge area for mackerel. Use live bait. WESTERN SHORE AND SKYWAY AREA: Captain Sergio Atanes, (813) 973-7132: Mackerel, trout and bluefish will respond to a chum line. Cobia are also on the list, but the best bait for all is cigar minnows free-lined or under a Cajun float. UPPER TAMPA BAY: Denny B’s Quality Bait & Tackle, (813) 885-9811: This time of year, you can count on catching redfish and snook in the upper bay. Live bait rules, especially on the resident snook population. Redfish, on the other hand, will also take live bait, bomber lures, spoons, jigs and topwater lures. SOUTH PINELLAS: Captain Paul Hawkins, (727) 560-6762: Redfish and pompano are the most fun these days when you can’t find a snook. However, tarpon are the big catch and there are still a lot of tarpon to go for. 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: Offshore fishing is good. 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, red snapper, mangrove snapper 4 to 8 pounds and greater amberjack. GANDY BAIT & TACKLE: (813) 839-5551: Pompano are off and on at the bridges; scrape the barnacles and you might attract them. Black drum are taking live bait at the bridges. Mangrove snapper, mackerel, trout and redfish are mostly taking live bait. TARPON SPRINGS: Captain Rich Knox, (727) 376-8809: Reds are where you find them, as they are in pockets of three or four fish, so move around until you find another bunch. Snook are best caught in the early morning incoming tide or afternoon outgoing tide. HERNANDO COUNTY: Captain Frank Bourgeois, (352) 666-6234: Watch the weather, but fish the 40- to 50-foot depths off Hernando Beach for grouper. Good catches of large Key West grunt and mangrove snapper are also being caught. KEATON BEACH: One More Cast guide service, (850) 584-9145: Some great trout catches are being made in 4 to 6 feet of water with a live pinfish under a Cajun thunder float. Trout to 20 inches were caught this week. Scallop hunters are still limiting out. HERNANDO BEACH: Captain Rick Rodriguez, (727) 992-9494: Try a night mangrove snapper trip for lots of action. Mangroves also can be caught in the daytime, but night action is excellent. FLY FISHING: Find your best glass minnow fly and keep it handy for smaller and mid-sized tarpon. They are feeding on glass minnows. Fish an 8 or 10 weight for the 40- to 60-pound tarpon. Remember to keep a tight loop. Freshwater Panfish action will wane as the moon phase changes. Bass action has been very good. In lakes that are higher, some good action is found behind former cover around the lake’s edge that is now not quite the edge. LAKE TARPON: Tarpon Tom’s Fresh and Saltwater Bait & Tackle, (727) 938-2379: Captain Lenny Crispino is catching good numbers of bass. Some 6- and 7-pound bass are being caught, along with high numbers of smaller bass. Bluegill catches have been great but will fall off with the moon phase changes. Smaller bluegill will still be caught in dinner quantities. Worms and crickets are the bluegill bait to use. KISSIMMEE CHAIN: Grape Hammock Fish Camp, (863) 692-1500: No really big bass this week, but 7- and 8-pounders can be found along with smaller fish. Some anglers are still limiting out on bluegill, but not all are doing that well. LORIDA-ISTOKPOGA: Trails End Fishing Resort guide service, (863) 655-0134: Bass and bluegill are still being caught. Bass catches are great, with some fish to 6 pounds taken. Bluegill catches are still good but will ease off as the moon changes phase. OKEECHOBEE, THE WEST WALL: No change. One of the finest fishing lakes in the country is still very low. Some bass and bluegill can be caught in Rim Canal. LAKE PANASOFFKEE: Pana Vista Lodge, (352) 793-2061: You can still catch a great dinner as the bluegill season continues. Bluegill are eating crickets big-time. Bass action continues to be better than most previous recent years.