By JIM LEE, The Tampa Tribune Posted 6.26.09

Click here for the Freshwater Report

Saltwater
One report of red tide has been rumored outside the Sunshine Skyway bridge area, but not confirmed. Grouper fishing from 60 feet off Hernando to 80 feet off Clearwater/St Petersburg is good. The 10,000 Islands are snook headquarters. Mackerel, kingfish and mangrove snapper are also being caught in high numbers. Deep offshore there are plenty of 15-pound red snapper to be caught. Catches are excellent. Big mangrove snapper and gag and red grouper are also being caught in deep water.

10,000 ISLANDS: Captain Cory McMillin, (239) 695-4420: Snook is the primary catch, with high numbers still being caught. However, trout, redfish and cobia are also being caught. Tarpon action is very good in the river mouth areas.

SARASOTA: Captain Rick Grassett, (941) 350-9790, (941) 923-7799: Good numbers of tarpon were jumped, hooked or landed. Punta Gorda produced some 30-pounders — jumping, running, spectacular fish antics. Use flies, bait and spin-cast with D.O.A. lures.

BOCA GRANDE: Captain Rich Knox, (727) 808-6688: Tarpon are taking crabs, threadfin herring and jigs in the pass. Sharks are very aggressive and they are big. On the inside of the bay, kingfish and mackerel are being caught.

SUN CITY, BISHOPS HARBOR & COCKROACH BAY: John’s Bait & Tackle, (813) 376-1127: The only “on the water” bait shop in the South Shore area. High numbers of trout are being caught. Redfish are still being caught. Snook are eating live bait well but won’t be back in season until September. Mackerel and grouper are being caught at the Sunshine Skyway bridge. Sheepshead, grunts and sharks are being caught.

RUSKIN: South Shore Bait & Tackle, (813) 641-2010: The Black Tip Shootout was won with a 5-foot blacktip. Blacktips and bonnethead sharks are thick. Trout, redfish, mackerel and snook to release are being caught.

WESTERN SHORE AND SKYWAY AREA: Captain Sergio Atanes, (813) 973-7132: Large mackerel and hoards of trout are being caught; 20 to 25 fish can be taken in a day. At the Sunshine Skyway bridge, grouper to 29 inches are being caught.

UPPER TAMPA BAY: Denny B’s Quality Bait & Tackle, (813) 885-9811: Lots of redfish are being caught. Lots of pinfish are available to catch the cobia that are moving in to the upper bay and other flats areas.

SOUTH PINELLAS: Captain Paul Hawkins, (727) 560-6762: Tarpon, tarpon and more tarpon. Fly rods or spin tackle will take these 50- to 125-pound monsters. If smaller fish are your game, there are plenty of trout, reds, pompano and mackerel with which to toy.

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: Go offshore for a deep sea fishing extravaganza. Fish the deeper waters for grouper, black sea bass, mangrove snapper and gray snapper (a k a grunt). You also might catch porgies and amberjack on longer trips. Grouper are open. The extended and overnight trips will produce the best catches of amberjack and big mangrove snapper.

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. Snook are being caught around Weedon Island. Live greenbacks or chubs are best, but live shrimp will work. Some very large reds have moved in the lower bay and are expected to move into the mid-Tampa Bay area.

CLEARWATER TO DUNEDIN: Captain Brian Mathey, (727) 667-8291: Lots of mackerel, on the outside, with trout and reds on the shoreline, spoil island and inside Barrier Island flats. Cobia and tarpon are the big catches, but fish early.

TARPON SPRINGS: Captain Rich Knox, (727) 376-8809: Snook, trout, redfish are available. Offshore there are grouper, mangrove snapper and cobia.

HERNANDO COUNTY: Captain Frank Bourgeois, (352) 666-6234: Grouper limits in 50 feet of water (50 miles out of Hernando). The whole crew limited out this week off Hernando beach. One huge grouper estimated at 30 pounds was observed coming to the boat, but saw the boat and almost jerked the rod out of the angler’s hands and broke an 80-pound line (not at the knot, either). Fish now before the grouper go deeper.

KEATON BEACH: One More Cast guide service, (850) 584-9145: The wind and heat kept many anglers off the water, but those who fished for trout did well fishing pinfish and artificial baits under a Cajun Thunder float. Tarpon have invaded the area, with quite a few caught or jumped.

HERNANDO BEACH: Captain Rick Rodriguez, (727) 992-9494: Lots of grouper are on little rock piles. There is great action on undersized grouper, mangrove snapper and grunts. Keeper grouper are among the mix of smaller grouper.

FLY FISHING: The canals at Punta Gorda hold plenty of smaller 30-pound tarpon and are a hoot to catch on a fly rod. Great tarpon guides for fly-rod anglers such as Paul Hawkins and Rick Grassett will put you on fish, too. Their contact information is included in this report.





Freshwater
High winds and hot weather are the obstacles for anglers these days. Bass catches are fair to slow. However, early and late is the best time to go for them. Some areas have a lot of schooling bass. You can catch high numbers of these yearling bass. Bluegill and shellcracker have been bedding during this dark of the moon time, but will get better on the next full moon in July. Lakes Istokpoga and Okeechobee to the south are great panfish lakes now; Lake Panasoffkee to the north is also a hot spot for panfish. The Hillsborough River and local lakes also produce good catches of panfish.

LAKE TARPON: Tarpon Tom’s Fresh and Saltwater Bait & Tackle, (727) 772-0708: Bluegill catches are better than the bass catches during the heat of the day. However, the night tournaments are doing very well, with good average-sized bass taken. Anglers are fishing early and late as the summer conditions dictate bass catches. Red worms dictate bluegill catches.

KISSIMMEE CHAIN: Grape Hammock Fish Camp, (863) 692-1500: Fish early and late for the best bass catches. Some bluegill and shellcracker are being caught during this moon phase, but it will pick up in a couple of weeks with the next full moon.

LORIDA-ISTOKPOGA: Trails End Fishing Resort guide service, (863) 655-0134: Bass catches will get better as the winds ease. Fish the heavy cover after sunup with worms. Current bass catches are fair. Bluegill are the main event.

OKEECHOBEE, THE WEST WALL: You will find lots of bluegill and shellcracker in certain places, but get local advice before you go. Bass catches have been very good the past few weeks, with schooling bass taking over and high numbers caught. Some bass and bluegill can be caught in the Rim Canal or other areas to the south.

LAKE PANASOFFKEE: Pana Vista Lodge, (352) 793-2061: Bluegill catches have slipped a little, but you can still catch them. Fish early and you’ll have 3- to 5-pound bass by 8 or 9 a.m. The higher water is making things easier.
 

'Florida fishing available online with all the fishing needs and tools provided.'