Fishing Forum - Tampa Bay Area Fishing Report

Tampa Bay Area Fishing Report Captain Charles Walker 8/19/01 This is the slowest time of year for the charterboat fleet in this area, mostly because of the “back to school” syndrome, but ofttimes the fishing can be great. Of course you have to be ready to tolerate the “feels like” temperature of 100 degrees plus, but that’s OK as long as you’re catching fish. Of course this week shark mania has taken hold of all the crazies and the bait stores have been over run by people wanting the best shark baits they can get. Goin fishin fer Jaws! On to the bait house reports: Ruskin Bait and Tackle - 813-641-2325 – Lots of black drum are in the Little Manatee River and being caught by the dozens. Reds are starting to school up around the flats. Cobia and tripletail have been biting around the markers in the Bay, when they are ready to bite, and that’s secret. Sharks are being caught in big numbers around our end of the Bay. Lots of small tarpon are still around the area and a few big ones are biting. Snook are biting well for the catch and release guys. Mangrove snapper and some grouper are coming in from the Bay this week. Buddy’s Bait and Tackle on the Courteney Campbell Causeway in Tampa - 813-287-1026 – Trout and reds are biting well at this end of the Bay around the Causeway flats on live shrimp. Mangrove snapper are biting around the bridge this week. Some cobia have been brought in form the big bridge. Bonnie’s Bait and Tackle in Clearwater - 727-446-2772- On Saturday one of the anglers on the Gulf Queen brought in a 54 pound gag grouper from 65 feet of water. A few gags, mangrove snapper, bonita, barracuda have been coming in from offshore this week. The Indian Rocks Beach artificial reef has been giving up some nice 4-6 pound permit this week. Of course the sharks have been biting well this week as they migrated from Anclote to New Pass. Early in the morning the trout are biting along the drop offs along the Intracoastal. Trappman’s Bait and Tackle on Gandy Blvd in St. Petersburg - 727-579-1414- The divers have been bringing in a lot of gags and hog snapper from 30 to 50 feet of water. Lots of pompano have been brought in this week from around the Gandy and the Howard Franklin Bridges. Some cobia have been caught on the flats around the island and we’ve had reports of triple tail on some of the channel markers in this part of the Bay. Dogfish Tackle on Redington Beach - 727-392-6644- Spanish mackerel are still biting well along the beach. Jack Crevalle and ladyfish are mixed in the schools to add some excitement. A lot of small dolphin have been caught in the 90 to 120 foot depths this week. Don’s Dock on Madeira Beach - 727-391-3223- A lot of tarpon have been in the pass this week in the early morning. Some nice flounder have been caught near our dock this week. The long range boats have been doing well at 140 feet plus. Pass-a-Grille Bait and Tackle on St. Pete Beach - 727-360-6606- Lots of snapper, Spanish mackerel, grouper, snook, and black drum have been caught off our dock. Our offshore boats have been doing well 25 mile or more offshore and bringing in red snapper, mangrove snapper, gag and red grouper. The Skyway Fishing Pier - 727-865-0668 and the south Skyway - 941-729-0117- Pompano, mangrove snapper, grouper, cobia, lots of Spanish mackerel, and flounder have all been caught off the north pier this week. On the south side, some grouper and lots of Spanish mackerel are the main fish this week. Folks, feel free to call any of the places in my report for more information, and be sure to tell them that you read about the fishing in their area in Capt. Charlie’s fishing report on the Internet. If you want more information about fishing in the Tampa Bay area or wish to book a charter, simply e-mail me at captchas@flfish.com or if you wish to arrange a charter faster, call me at 727-546-7257. Be sure and visit my web site for lots more Tampa Bay Area fishing info at: http://www.floridasaltwater.com . Good fishing and tight lines, Capt. Charlie http://www.flfish.com/fl Capt. Charlie Walker http://www.flfish.com