Fishing Forum - Tampa Bay Area Fishing Report

Tampa Bay Area Fishing Report Captain Charles Walker 12/16/01 Since summer never left us, the fishing has been great. The best catching has been in the northern part of our area off Clearwater and to the north. The kingfish are biting well for those anglers fishing the Sand Key hard bottom and the artificial reefs and wrecks off Clearwater. There have been no reports of red tide this week, thank goodness, so the fishing will probably start to spread out a little over the area as the cold fronts start rolling through. It looks like the coming week will usher in our first real cold front of the winter and drop the temperatures around 10 degrees. This will definitely change the fishing patterns. On to the bait house reports: Ruskin Bait and Tackle - 813-641-2325 – Lots of big sheepshead have been brought in this week. Grouper are biting in the ship’s channel for the anglers that are trolling large plugs. Even a near 50-pound redfish was trolled up this week. Lots of grunts are being caught on the rocky edges of the channel and on the artificial reefs. Buddy’s Bait and Tackle on the Courteney Campbell Causeway in Tampa - 813-287-1026 – Reds and snook are biting along the Causeway. The little bridge on the Clearwater side seems to be the best area over the last few days for anglers using large live shrimp. There are plenty of sheepshead on all the rocks and pilings in this end of the Bay. Bonnie’s Bait and Tackle in Clearwater - 727-446-2772- Cobia were biting well right on the beach at Clearwater this week on live pinfish. Grouper have been biting well on live bait in the 30 to 40 foot depths, mostly north of Clearwater Pass. Kings are still biting well on live cigar minnows on the Clearwater hard bottom and most of the wrecks in the area. Flounder are biting well in the Pass this week on the outgoing tide. A lot of pompano were caught around the Gandy and Howard Franklin Bridges and there were lots of tarpon seen there at night as well. Trappman’s Bait and Tackle on Gandy Blvd in St. Petersburg - 727-579-1414- Pompano were biting well on Doc’s Goofy Jigs and fiddler crabs around the bridge this week. Lots of sheepshead have been caught. Love lures and shrimp are fooling plenty of silver trout in the ship’s channel. Dogfish Tackle on Redington Beach - 727-392-6644- Spanish mackerel came back to the Redington Pier this morning. Lots of kings have been caught north off Clearwater. Don’s Dock on Madeira Beach - 727-391-3223- The red tide has moved on we think, but the grouper seem to have moved considerably north of us. Inshore there are plenty of sheepshead and some trout. Pass-a-Grille Bait and Tackle on St. Pete Beach - 727-360-6606- Some nice flounder and sheepshead have been caught off our gas dock. This week. Pompano, grouper and drum have also been caught off our dock and along the seawall. Thank goodness the red tide has gone so the fishing will start getting much better. The Skyway Fishing Pier - 727-865-0668 and the south Skyway - 941-729-0117- Grouper, lots of flounder, mangrove snapper, silver trout, sea bass and other odds and ends have been caught this weekend. The hot baits are pinfish and greenbacks. 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