Friday, Oct. 10, 2008

Hot spots fishing report

As water temperatures continue to cool, fish in general continue to move inland.

Offshore, possible keeper grouper action can now be had in 50-80 feet of water.

Inshore, snook are moving closer to creeks and bayous.

Look for early morning and late afternoon top-water action to take off in the coming months as water temperatures slowly cool.

But if it's not snook, trout and redfish you're after, fishing from just off the beaches to about 10 miles out has been the place to be. Bait is loaded off the beaches.

Sunshine Skyway Pier

Ryan Schroeder from the south pier reported the usual catches of Spanish mackerel (16-17 inches on average), king mackerel and grouper.

Terra Ceia Bay

Capt. Ray Markham has been getting some better trout and flounder action the past week, fishing Miguel Bay and areas south of there.

Between now and December, when the first couple cold fronts blast through, there will be some phenomenal top-water snook action, good redfish action and lots of trout. However, the trout won't be too big until April and May.

Markham is an artificials specialist and said this is the time of year that artificials come into their own.

Markham has found flounder in depressions, or hollowed-out, sandy areas lined by patches of grass and shell. The flounder seem to run about 15-17 inches.

Markham has done well with D.O.A. shrimp and even better with C.A.L. shads on a jig dragging and bumping them along the bottom.

Manatee River/Lake Manatee

Hit the river's deeper grass flats near patches of sand for possible trout action. Some good keeper had been around the mouth.

Big snook around bridges and redfish around docks have been reported.

Capt. Doc Lee said Lake Manatee should be phenomenal for trolling for speckled perch.

Also, in freshwater in general, bass are schooling, especially toward midday and through the afternoon if waters have calmed down and shad are busting on the surface.

Tampa Bay

Dave Sork from Anna Maria City Pier said Spanish mackerel have been the main catch, while mangrove snapper continue to be caught under the docks. Some big jack crevalle have also been landed.

Sork reported a barracuda coming through to eat Spanish mackerel.

Upper Tampa Bay had been slow in general for redfish and snook.

Tarpon and occasional cobia (around markers) are still around Skyway waters.

Anna Maria Sound/Palma Sola Bay

Capt. Zach Zacharias found nice snapper and slot redfish in Anna Maria Sound, not to mention a pair of fat flounder during a charter this week.

Sarasota Bay

Capt. Jonnie Walker reported the bulk of his inshore catch has been trout, snook and redfish. Roberts Bay and Little Sarasota Bay are the best places to look. Snook continue to move closer to creeks and bayous.

Longboat Pass

Snook, mangrove snapper and Spanish mackerel reportedly have dominated the pass.

Beaches and Gulf

Capt. Hank Williams said the best bet this week has been fishing between 50 and 80 feet of water over the edges of hard-bottom drop-offs. Live pinfish or other live baits have been the best for gag grouper. Wiliams said cut mullet has been a great bait to use for red grouper, as is squid. Off the nearshore artificial beaches, the action is staggering at times on Spanish and king mackerel. Try trolling cigar minnows and sardines on kingfish rigs over reefs. Idle in one direction, then drift back if the wind allows.

Braden River/Lake Evers

Capt. Doc Lee said catfish action should be good with the limited rains we've had. Bluegill had been slow to bite in Lake Evers, but Lee has managed some on a No. 8 green bead eye fly.

Myakka River State Park

Like many freshwater areas, bluegill should be slowing down in favor of speckled perch. Penny Crawford from Mr. B's Fishin' Hole hasn't heard any reports from anglers lately, however.