By JIM LEE

Freshwater

The only place bluegill are being caught in any numbers is in Lake Okeechobee. Speckled perch are being caught in twos and threes. Bass catches are good, with fish to 8.5 pounds taken.

HILLSBOROUGH RIVER: Hong Kong Willie, (813) 770-4794: Bass catches are good in most lakes, while bluegill are off. Specks are being found in the Tampa Bypass Canal. If you want bluegill, the Hillsborough River is the best place to find them. Drift and place live worms in every likely spot. Catfish are still a good catch.

LAKE TARPON: Tarpon Tom’s Fresh and Saltwater Bait & Tackle, (727) 772-0708: Bass to 5.5 pounds were taken this week. Specks have started, while bluegill have all but disappeared. Don’t expect big speck numbers, but dinner is available.

KISSIMMEE CHAIN: Grape Hammock Fish Camp, (863) 692-1500: Bass catches are good, with most anglers getting limits. A few specks are being taken around Rabbit Island.

LORIDA-ISTOKPOGA: Trails End Fishing Resort guide service, (863) 655-0134: Good bass catches continue. Speckled perch catches remain spotty, and night speck fishing is the best way to catch them now.

LAKE OKEECHOBEE: J & S Fish Camp, (772) 597-4455 Bluegill are still being caught. Tilapia, catfish and some specks also are being taken. One 8.5-pound bass taken. Lots of 4- to 8-pound bass can be caught.

LAKE PANASOFFKEE: Pana Vista Lodge, (352) 793-2061: Anglers are waiting for the specks to start. Bass 2 to 4 pounds make up most of the bass catches.

Saltwater

Cooler weather and winds prevailed this week, but the anglers who fished did well. Sheepshead are moving in, but the big females will be easier to catch next month. Kingfish are here, but not in full-blown numbers. You can troll for mackerel and you might be able to troll for grouper in 30 to 40 feet of water. Flounder, bluefish, redfish, jack crevalle and ladyfish are being caught. Snook are moving off the barrier islands to the shoreline and rivers, inlets and canals.

10,000 ISLANDS: Captain Cory McMillin, (239) 695-4420: Winds hamper the outside, but on the inside and backcountry, it’s business as usual for snook. Fish early before the winds get up for reds on the outside.

SARASOTA: Captain Rick Grassett, (941) 350-9790 or (941) 923-7799: Fishing in the Gulf, several little tunny were caught on flies. Mackerel, bluefish and trout were also taken on flies. Little tunny were also taken in Sarasota Bay.

RUSKIN: South Shore Bait & Tackle, (813) 641-2010: Sheepshead, redfish and mangrove snapper are being caught.

WESTERN SHORE AND SKYWAY AREA: Captain Sergio Atanes, (813) 973-7132: Redfish and mangrove snapper are still what you will catch. Some smaller male sheepshead have moved in, but the larger females will be better available in December.

UPPER TAMPA BAY: Denny B’s Quality Bait & Tackle, (813) 885-9811: In this windy weather, the best red and snook fishing is up the creeks and the canal. Sheepshead are moving in and should be plentiful in the residential canals next month.

SOUTH PINELLAS: Captain Paul Hawkins, (727) 560-6762: Mackerel and big jacks are leaping in schools of bait. Snook singles will take a lure or live bait. You can work a jerk bait along a shoreline for snook. Redfish are easy on live bait or artificial lures. Fishing is fantastic.

FISHING PIERS: South Pier, (941) 729-0117: Pier fishing offers most of the current species being caught in the bay. Fish the pier for mangrove snapper, 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: Go offshore for a deep sea fishing extravaganza. Fish the deeper waters for grouper, mangrove snapper and gray snapper (grunt). You also might catch porgies and amberjack on longer trips. 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, black drum, redfish and mackerel are in the bay. Fish the Weedon Island area for trout and redfish. Ladyfish are everywhere. Live greenbacks will fool anybody.

CLEARWATER TO DUNEDIN: Captain Brian Mathey, (727) 667-8291: Big mackerel are on the inside of the spoil islands. Lots of redfish and big trout are being found. Some are holding around the spoil islands. Snook are scattered, but will take live bait, usually when presented.

TARPON SPRINGS: Captain Rich Knox, (727) 376-8809 or (727) 808-6688: Between the full moon, low tides and winds that kept the water out, fishing was tough. There are a few snook moving in, but they will be hard to find until better tides return. By next week that will be better and some more trout might be moving in. Bait of any size has been hard to find.

KEATON BEACH: One More Cast guide service, (850) 584-9145: Even in 15-knot winds, anglers limit out on trout. Fishing shallow 2.5 to 3.5 feet of water, using live bait under a Cajun float, many anglers took home limits more than 20 inches, with some to 24 inches.

HERNANDO BEACH: Captain Rick Rodriguez, (727)-992-9494: Fishing is great. Big red grouper and kingfish are offshore. Gag grouper have moved into shallower haunts. Cobia, mangrove snapper and mackerel are the bi-catch. Live bait, cut bait or trolling will catch grouper.

FLY FISHING: Thrashing the water might have been a little tough lately due to the winds, but lots of reds, mackerel and trout were taken on flies this week. Sheepshead are moving in and will make a notable adversary on a fly rod.