Keeper-sized grouper getting tougher to find
Posted Sep 6, 2012 by TBO.com
Updated Sep 6, 2012 at 04:01 PM
By JIM LEE
Fishing results and tips for freshwater and saltwater spots, including Tampa Bay and area locations.
Saltwater
Offshore, it would seem that the gag grouper went to deeper water as is the norm this time of year. Fishing for gags in 50 feet is less active than last month. Lots of short red grouper can be caught with an occasional legal fish. Trout, snook, mangrove snapper and some grouper can still be caught. In 40 to 80 feet of water the short red grouper will run you out of bait.
Off Hernando Beach, trout are being found from 4 feet out to the 12-foot grass flats. Scallops can still be found with a few more days left on the season. Scallops have been taken in 8 feet deep at high tide, and they have been scattered. In state waters only, out to 9 miles you are allowed to catch red, gag, black, Yellowfin, yellowmouth, rock hind and scamp grouper. Of course only gags and a few red grouper are normally found in this close. Snook have moved outside in many areas and are also moving to the barrier islands.
10,000 ISLANDS: Captain Corey McMillin, (239) 695-4420: NO REPORT.
SARASOTA: Captain Rick Grassett, (941) 350-9790 or (941) 923-7799: Captain Rick will be back on station next week. Meanwhile, the Sarasota area abounds with redfish and trout. Catches of numerous trout are common. Catches of 4 to 6 reds is also possible.
SKYWAY AREA: Captain Sergio Atanes, (813) 973-7132: Good catches of mangrove snapper, trout and redfish are still with us in the bay. Redfish have been mostly undersized fish.
LOWER TAMPA BAY: Captain Tony Frankland, (813) 915-8541: Snook are the go to fish, but trout and redfish are coming in second and third. Fish the creeks and backwaters and potholes for snook.
UPPER TAMPA BAY: Cody’s Bait & Tackle, (813) 884-3100: Anglers are hoping for a snook season next year as this is the place for snook. Redfish are up in the creeks and canals. Live chubs and pinfish are best baits.
SOUTH PINELLAS: Captain Paul Hawkins, (727) 560-6762: NO REPORT
FISHING PIERS: South Pier, (941) 729-0117: Expect the unexpected. Pier fishing offers most of the current species being caught in the bay. Fish the pier for mangrove snapper, trout, redfish, perhaps a flounder, Spanish mackerel or even a stray tarpon.
MID-PINELLAS PARTY BOATS: Offshore bottom fishing from Hubbard’s John’s Pass Marina and Kingfish dock, (727) 393-1947: Gag grouper opened on July 1. If it is fishing you want, the gag grouper bite is fantastic this time of year and there are plenty of them. Some good size red grouper are also available in deep water. The gray snapper bite is also good. Go offshore for a deep sea fishing extravaganza. Fish the deeper waters for great mangrove snapper catches. Black sea bass and porgies are also on the list.
GANDY BAIT & TACKLE: (813) 839-5551: The Gandy Bridge is closed to fishing. However, Gandy Bait and Tackle is the place to go in this area for live bait and tackle and information. Weedon Island fishing has snook, trout, jack crevalle and redfish action. This is the premier wade fishing spot.
CLEARWATER TO DUNEDIN: Captain Brian Mathey, (727) 667-8291: There are lots of smaller trout on the flats these days. Fish the shoreline shallows for redfish. Cut bait or a piece of crab will draw them in.
TARPON SPRINGS: Captain Rich Knox, (727) 376-8809 or (727) 808-6688: No report; however you can fish the barrier islands for good size snook, trout and redfish. Early on you may run into a stray cobia or two. Work the outside area of the barrier islands for mackerel.
HERNANDO BEACH: Captain Frank Bourgeois, (352) 666-6234: Catch tons of red grouper offshore, but most are undersized. Gag grouper are king offshore with lots of gray snapper to boot. We only have a little over a month left in grouper season, so book your trips now.
WEEKIWACHEE: Captain Steve Soults, Angling Adventures (352) 686-0853: Fishing the back waters and the 12 foot grass flats have been good this week. Big trout, a few cobia and some short grouper are all on the flats. Artificial bass assassins work almost as good as cut bait.
FLY FISHING: There were a few days when fly fishing worked very well, otherwise, the winds often get in the way. Trout fishing is good in 4 to 8 feet of water. Clouser flies or a 1/20 ounce brass Eppinger Rex Spoon both work well.
Freshwater
Bluegill this week was almost as good as last week, but these fish are beginning to ease off once again. It won’t be long before speckled perch will begin to bunch up. You can catch them now, but not in any great numbers. Bass action has picked back up with early and late anglers doing the best. With all the recent rainy weather we still have moving water in some areas. These places are prime areas for bass, bluegill and specks. Flip the heavy cover for bass on bright days. Live shiners for bait in the right place will make your day.
KISSIMMEE CHAIN: Grape Hammock Fish Camp, (863) 692-1500: Bluegill catches are still very good. Bass catches are improving as more anglers hit the water. Bass in the 2 to 6 pound range are a common catch. September is upon us, and will soon change the game. Plan ahead.
LORIDA-ISTOKPOGA: Trails End Fishing Resort guide service, (863) 655-0134: Bluegill and speckled perch continue to be caught in fair numbers. Bass action is improving each day with 4 to 6 pound bass a common catch. This is a prime bass lake, so make it a destination for excellent bass catches.
LAKE OKEECHOBBEE: Roland and Mary Ann Martin’s Marina & Resort, 800-473-6766: This is big bass country. Lake Okeechobee has a reputation for more and bigger bass. With a few calmer days this week bass action is getting better. Bass in the 6-, 8-, and 9 pound classes are common.
LAKE ROUSSEAU and the Withlacoochee: Captain Frank Bourgeois, (352) 666-6234: NO REPORT.
LAKE PANASOFFKEE: Pana Vista Lodge, (352) 793-2061: Bluegill action has been better, but is still good enough to go for. Fish for bass in the morning and then go for bluegill later on. Bluegill are still scattered due to the high, dark water.
By | Suncoast News correspondent Published: September 06, 2012
Isaac passed but left a lot of muddy water in its wake that put the brakes on fishing. It wasn’t until Sunday that the water began to clear up along the beach, reports Larry at Pier 60, on Clearwater Beach. When it did, the bite took off.
The breezy conditions and rain did help cool off the water, with beach temperatures dropping about 4 degrees over the last week. But since water temperatures were as high as 90 prior to the storm, the water remains very warm. Now that August is behind us, though, it won’t be long before the water drops to 80 degrees, and from there we’re poised to turn the corner on the season and break into the magical 70s.
Anclote Bait and Tackle, (727) 945-1808: Capt. Griff says small sharks remain on the flats, giving anglers all the action they want. Blacktips, bonnetheads and bigger bull sharks around the islands are taking live and dead bait. Trout are on the deeper grass flats and taking jigs or live shrimp and sardines. Offshore, a regular fishing 65 to 70 feet of water west of Anclote Key landed a number of keeper red grouper.
One Stop Bait and Tackle, (727) 842-5610: Joe says things have been slow since last week, when the storm passed. He got a chance to get out and do a little fishing of his own, however, taking some nice trout in 5 to 8 feet of water over grass bottom. That is the depth to start looking for keeper-sized trout. Working the shore on high tide just south of the Anclote River, he found a nice school of reds. Mackerel are a good get on the open flats and off the island beaches. Fish are schooling and there are some good-sized ones. Chum to draw them in and fish them with live bait, jigs or spoons.
Pier 60, (727) 462-6466: The fishing was slow until things started to pick up by the close of the weekend. The water was so stirred up prior, the fish had headed off for the depths. But the water has cleaned up, and the bait was back by Sunday, sparking some good action on mackerel, trout after dark and plenty of grunts.
Some jumbo black drum, including a couple of fish to 30 pounds, have been landed.
The Long Pier, (727) 391-9398: Bob says things are getting back to normal at the pier, with cooler water starting to improve the bite. By the weekend, water conditions were returning to normal, and anglers found some good action on slot-sized reds. Flounder fishing has been hot, with some big fish taking jigs and shrimp off the bottom around sandy patches.
The trout bite has been on at night, and the fish have been running large. Lots of catfish are being landed and released.
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