Fishing: Around Tampa Bay
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1. At Big Pier 60 in Clearwater, 30- mph
winds Thursday will keep the water murky and fishing slow
for a few days. Just with sand perch, silver trout and but-
terfish anyway. Better bet is trout north of Dunedin
Causeway and flats inside Caladesi and Honeymoon islands.
2. At Madeira Beach, high seas have been the bane of
offshore anglers, but there's solid action for grouper,
snapper and amberjack at 70-90 feet when boats can get out.
3. At John's Pass, snook in residential canals, along with
sheep's head around dock pilings, reports Capt. Chuck
Macintyre of Treasure Island (727709-9045). He's been using
shrimp.
4. At Fort DeSoto Park, sheepshead pretty much the only
option at the Gulf Pier. Flounder bite tapered off.
5. Around the Sunshine Skyway and lower Tampa Bay, Capt.
Shawn Crawford of Lakeland (941-761-0301 in Bradenton)
reports 12-15 snook on Thursday despite 25-30 mph wind --
"We had to work for them," he said. None of the snook were
keepers, but up to 25 7/8 inches long. Crawford said snook
still close to wintering grounds in creeks and canals,
holding around docks and deeper channels. Seeing plenty of
snook and redfish in very shallow water, where only wade
fishermen and kayaks can get to. Water temperature 68-71 on
flats, about right to get spring bite started with another
string of warm days.
6. At Anna Maria, snook season opened Wednesday, and there's
some fish on the flats along with trout and redfish. Wait
for next series of warm days before the next front. Also
bluefish roaming flats.
7. At St. Petersburg, Capt. Chuck Rogers (Rattlesnake Point
Outfitters in south Tampa, 813918-8356) reports seeing good
numbers of snook on flats, but water still too cold for them
to bite. No greenbacks on flats in mid-bay region, but can
be netted at Skyway bridge.
8. In the north end of Tampa Bay, anglers waiting for next
extended warm front to capitalize on opening of snook
season. Big trout will be active, too. Try Double Branch and
Rocky Creek areas, and Cooper Bayou, when conditions get
right.
Elsewhere
• Another sailfish tournament record fell last week in the
Keys, with 310 releases in three events in the Florida Keys
Gold Cup Sailfish Championship out of Islamorada. The
winners posted a total of 34 releases. The last event, the
Islamorada Fishing Club's Sailfish Tournament, was won with
nine releases by Capt. Benny Spaulding's team on Jan. 26.
• Snook being caught along rock jetties at Fort Pierce Inlet
and in the turning basin around docks and bridges, mostly on
live bait.
• Snook season opened with little success at Sebastian
Inlet, although plenty of anglers trying, reports Wabasso
Bait and Tackle (772-589-8518) near the inlet. River fishing
remains best bet by far, with good-sized pompano along with
trout, redfish, black drum and a few big Spanish mackerel.
Also pompano in surf when water is clear.
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