By MARK COOK

Anyone who has done any driving through eastern Hillsborough County or Polk County certainly has noticed the huge piles of phosphate byproduct called gypsum stacks. While mining has scarred our landscape forever, one positive that has come are the numerous pools or pits that are left after the draglines are gone.

These pits produce some of the best fishing in the state and Florida’s “phosphate pit bass” are known around the country. Unfortunately a majority of these pits are on private land and most people are left out. However, the average citizen can take advantage of several that are now owned or managed by the state.

One of the best is Teneroc Fish Management Area in Lakeland, where anglers can get a taste of phosphate fishing at its finest. With 14 lakes to choose from, Teneroc offers bass, bluegill, shellcracker, specks and several varieties of catfish.

Bluegill and shellcracker are an easy catch this time of year. Bass catches also are excellent at Teneroc and in the private pits, although the size has dropped considerably since earlier this spring. For bass, fish shallow early and late, then deeper in the middle parts of the day.

Look for irregular bottoms, humps or ledges, and structure when fishing phosphate pits. Most natural Florida lakes have sloping flat bottoms, while phosphate pits may have 20-foot holes just offshore.

For rules and hours of operations visit www.myfwc.comor call (863) 648-3203.

Mark Cook can be reached at tribfishing@aol.com.