Please dowload enable javascript or download the latest flash player.

Weather Search: Type zip or city

Outdoors Forum:

• Talk Outdoors

Weather Links:

---

• Live Video Weather
• Solunar Tables
• WFLA Doppler Radar
• Marine Forecast
• Personal Forecast
• Watches/Warnings

Tide Charts:

---

• Daily
• Hillsborough
• Clearwater
• St. Petersburg
• Point Pinellas
• Conversion chart
• Tide predictions

Most Recent Entries

• Robinson product Gibson advances to NCAA track finals
• Panini previews Gold Standard autographs
• UD unveils Military Machines inserts for 2012 Goodwin Champions set
• Rays @ BoSox: Guyer out for the season, Jennings close to returning and lineups
• USF softball: It’s game day
• Weekly Tampa Bay fishing report
• Rays at BoSox: Rivalry renewed
• Karen Cooley returns as Zephyrhills girls swimming coach
• USF beats Pitt, stays alive
• The Nerds head north
• Jeffrey Shank out as Gulf boys basketball coach
• Berkeley Prep captures Academic Team Champion Award - again
• This week’s signings and offers
• Berkeley Prep wins FHSAA Academic Award standings
• Shank out as Gulf boys hoops coach

More

• Bucs Report -Tribune staff
• Rays Report - Roger Mooney
• Bolts Report - Erik Erlendsson
• Bulls Report
• Prep Report - Hillsborough
• Prep Report - Pasco
• Prep Report - Region
• Prep Report - Recruiting Updates
• Prep Report - Football
• Go Fishing: On The Waterfront
• The Sports Bookie - Bob D'Angelo
• Gators Report - Tribune staff
• Youth Sports Report
• NFL Draft Report
• Go Ask: Frank's Tacklebox
• Bucified Bert Blog
• BUK Power - Bucs Fan Blog
• Pigskin Preacher - NFL Fan Blog
• Breakfast Bonus - Tom McEwen
• Highlands Sports

Monthly Archives

• May 2012
• April 2012
• March 2012
• February 2012
• January 2012
• December 2011

Okeechobee brimming with bass

Posted Dec 21, 2011 by Tribune Sports

Updated Dec 21, 2011 at 09:51 PM

BY FRANK SARGEANT

Captain Mike Shellen reports that Lake Okeechobee’s stocking has been stuffed to the brim with bass this week. Okeechobee Fishing Headquarters held a team tournament Sunday and many of the entrants were fishing pros there scouting for the FLW events to be held in early 2012. Randall Tharp and Brandon McMillan took home $2,600 for first place with a weight of 34.64 lbs, nearly a 7-pound average for the five fish!

Shellen said the north end of the lake continues to be hot, with prime action around J&S Fish Camp, Grassy Island and King’s Bar. He said Observation Shoal is good when it’s fishable, but strong winds have made it tough of late. For more, visit http://www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.com.

Specks continue to bite along the weedlines and in the lower Kissimmee River, with minnow-tipped jigs the favorite offering. Specks are also on the move at lakes Crescent and George on the St. Johns River, and in the Kissimmee Chain at Toho, East Toho, Hatchineha and Istokpoga. For the largest fish this month, slow-troll 1/16- to 1/8-ounce jigs in water 10 feet or deeper around shad schools.

Sheepshead continue to be a dependable target in saltwater, with the canals around Sarasota and Bradenton among the top spots. A small piece of fresh-cut shrimp is the prime bait. Oyster-bottomed potholes along the South Shore area of Tampa Bay are also good on the bottom of low tides, and the barnacled pilings in the downtown harbor also hold plenty of fish throughout the winter.