By JIM LEE

Freshwater:

This weekend will be marked with a dark moon. Bluegill and shellcracker will be on the beds will bite almost as good as a full-moon bite. Bass action will be very good. Nighttime bass fishing might not be as productive with no moon.

NORTH TAMPA: Bill’s Bait & Tackle, (813) 621-4237: Good bait sales throughout the week are indicative of a good panfish forecast for the weekend. Bass anglers using artificial worms and live shiners should do well.

LAKE TARPON: Tarpon Tom’s Fresh and Saltwater Bait & Tackle, (727) 938-2379: There are lots of small bass in this lake. Live shiners still work very well.

KISSIMMEE CHAIN: Grape Hammock Fish Camp, (863) 692-1500: Don’t spare the horses getting on the Kissimmee chain, as bluegill and shellcracker should be in full swing. Limits will be the order of the day. Bass action is in its summer phase. Fish early and late for the best action; however, bass do feed midday. Bass 5 to 7 pounds are eating, but mostly live shiners.

LORIDA-ISTOKPOGA: Trails End Fishing Resort guide service, (863) 655-0134: This lake has not been fished a lot lately and should be in good shape for some larger bass. Bluegill are in the lily pads in some areas.

OKEECHOBEE, THE WEST WALL: Glen Hunter Guide Service, 1-800-541-7541: This lake is still very low. Bluegill are bedding, but call ahead to see if you can get to them. Some bass and bluegill can be caught in the Rim Canal.

LAKE PANASOFFKEE: Pana Vista Lodge, (352) 793-2061: Perhaps the shellcracker will pick up speed by the weekend. It could be a down year for shellcracker. Lots of rain has increased the water level, so anything can happen. Fish for bass in the back waters behind the cover in the “new water.”

Saltwater:

Scallop season is open, and a 2-gallon max limit on whole scallops per person is the same as last year. Locations are about the same, too. Consult www.myfwc.com for complete information. The new moon could mean less of the larger mangrove snapper offshore than normal. However, grouper catches should be excellent. Red snapper are abundant offshore in 120 to 200 feet. Inshore fishing should be good this weekend, with snook, redfish, a few trout and lots of mackerel available. Early morning tarpon and cobia fishing will be great. Mangrove snapper are in the deep rough areas and will eat a live shrimp.

10,000 ISLANDS: Captain Cory McMillin, (239) 695-4420: This weekend will be great for snook, redfish, cobia and goliath grouper. Tarpon are moving in and out of the large estuaries. You also can take creek tarpon in the back water creeks.

BOCA GRANDE: There are still tarpon at Boca Grande Pass and on the beaches. If you haven’t tried Boca Grande tarpon fishing, do so before it is gone for another year.

SARASOTA: Captain Rick Grassett, (941) 923-7799: Grassett is jumping a lot of tarpon lately, most of them on flies. Whether it is flies, lures or live bait, there are plenty of tarpon.

SUN CITY, BISHOPS HARBOR & COCKROACH BAY: John’s Bait & Tackle, (813) 376-1127: When John’s bait barge is on the water, you can get more bait as you need it without going back to shore and driving to the bait store. This on-the-water bait shop will be convenient.

RUSKIN: South Shore Bait & Tackle, (813) 641-2010: Greenbacks and shrimp are taking mackerel, cobia, redfish, snook and trout. Tarpon and cobia are in the bay and on the flats. Mangrove snapper are the easy catch on live shrimp.

WESTERN SHORE AND SKYWAY AREA: Captain Sergio Atanes, (813) 973-7132: The lower bay area was a little off lately, but has picked up. Atanes was catching reds, snook and mackerel during this lull period. Live shrimp on the bottom under a Pro-Chum chum line is the best way to catch
mackerel, redfish and trout. Redfish are being caught at Joe’s Island. Tarpon are up in the bay and around the Sunshine Skyway bridge.

UPPER TAMPA BAY: Denny B’s Quality Bait & Tackle, (813) 885-9811: Mangrove snapper make dinner easy and they are an easy catch. Live shrimp is the best way to catch them. Redfish and snook are the go-to fish. Fish the bridges for tarpon and up in the bay. Soak dead bait up in the bay, or use live bait at the bridges.

SOUTH PINELLAS: Captain Paul Hawkins, (727) 560-6762: Tarpon fishing is at its best. Try fly fishing off the bow of a flats boat and you will join the ranks of the best and worst of tarpon fishing. You get up close and personal with these 6-foot monsters. Hanging one on a fly rod on the bow of a bouncing flats boat is where the rodeo riders train. It’s an adventure. MirrOlures, jigs, flies and live bait work on tarpon. Trout, mackerel, pompano and redfish are also available and are taking a Cotee clear shrimp with red flecks or grub jigs bounced off the bottom.

SKYWAY, UPPER BAY AND OFFSHORE: Captain James Wisner, (813) 784-5658: Wisner is either grouper fishing or taking tarpon off the Sunshine Skyway area. Both fisheries are hot this time of year. Grouper, however, are best caught way offshore in 100-plus feet.

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 even a stray grouper.

MID-PINELLAS PARTY BOATS: Offshore bottom fishing from Hubbard’s John’s Pass Marina and Kingfish dock, (727) 393-1947: Offshore fishing is good. Fish the deeper waters for black sea bass, mangrove snapper and gray snapper. You also might catch porgies and amberjack on longer trips. The extended and overnight trips will produce the best catches of grouper, red snapper, mangrove snapper 4 to 8 pounds and greater amberjack.

GANDY BAIT & TACKLE: (813) 839-5551: No matter if you wade-fish, use a boat or fish the bridges, you will find good fish in this area. Big black drum have moved into the bridge abutment areas, and it will take a stout pole to bring one home. These fish range from 10 to 50 pounds and are a threat to light tackle. Tarpon are also at the bridges taking a soaked whole bait on the bottom or live bait at night.

TARPON SPRINGS: Captain Rich Knox, (727) 376-8809: Mackerel, redfish and snook are the main players around the barrier islands. Fish the north end of the island for snook and mackerel. Redfish are in the river and on the flats.

HERNANDO COUNTY: Captain Frank Bourgeois, (352) 666-6234: Hernando offshore grouper fishing is at its summertime best. Grouper, bonito, barracuda, grunt and sea bass can be caught offshore. The best keeper grouper come from 40 to 50 miles out in 50 to 60 feet of water.

KEATON BEACH: One More Cast guide service, (850) 584-9145: Scallop season should be in full swing this weekend. According to a local survey, there should be plenty of scallops to go for. Big trout are not the problem anymore. Just put a pinfish under a Cajun Thunder Float and hang on. This seems to be the best way to find the big gator trout. Offshore action should also be good for those who go after grouper — provided you have plenty of squid for bait, of course.

HERNANDO BEACH: Captain Rick Rodriguez, (727) 992-9494: Plenty of grouper are being caught offshore. Fishing the 50-foot depths also brings in large mangrove snapper. Big kingfish occasionally will take bottom baits as well. You never know just what monster you might bring to the boat. Take a night trip for mangrove snapper fishing because they really bite best at night.

FLY FISHING: Fly anglers have plenty of targets this holiday weekend. Tarpon for the stout-hearted. Redfish, snook and trout are the easy targets. Go after these fish if you want a good fight and higher numbers. Tarpon flies for tarpon; Clousers, buck tails and poppers for the rest. A big cobia also will give you bragging rights.