Mackerel starting to show near beaches

Posted Feb 11, 2012 by The Tampa Tribune

Updated Feb 11, 2012 at 04:45 PM

BY BILL MILLER

Spanish mackerel have arrived along our beaches. This appears to be the early scouts, with the major migration not far behind.

Captain Billy Miller and I both limited out our parties with Spanish fishing just off Blind Pass on the early morning outgoing tide. Although I haven’t heard any reports, my guess is the same thing is probably happening in front of other local passes like John’s Pass, Hurricane Pass and Clearwater Pass.

These early arriving mackerel can be here today and somewhere else tomorrow. There was a lot of bait in the Gulf, and the diving birds helped us locate the schools of hungry macks.

Early in the week, I went down to Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island Sound with Eric Bachnik to film the first episode of my new TV and Internet show, “Fishing with Bill Miller.” Captain John Ochs guided us, and we caught 30 trout and two redfish on topwater lures.

I was using a She Dog that has a high-pitched rattle, and Eric and John were using a MirrOmullet XL that is a little smaller and has a lower-pitched sound to it. After falling behind my partners 10 fish to none, I switched to their lure and started catching fish.

On this particular day, sound and shape seemed to matter; some days it does not. Many of us have favorite lures we always start with, but if the fish are not keying in on it, don’t be afraid to try another one.

Jonathan Grantham and his father Jim went out with me this week, and we had a mixed bag of action. We started the day catching mackerel in the Gulf and then moved inside and had a nice day on the flats catching speckled trout, silver trout, bluefish and assorted other flats fish using DOA Deadly Combinations and Lil Johns.

Captain Bill Miller hosts “Hooked on Fishing” on Bright House Sports Network, Channel 47. To book a charter with captain Bill or his son captain Billy, call (813) 363-9927.

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Fish are slamming baits down south

Posted Feb 9, 2012 by The Tampa Tribune

Updated Feb 9, 2012 at 04:55 PM

By FRANK SARGEANT

Captain Van Hubbard reports from Lemon Bay that 73-degree water temperatures have snook active, along with everything else. He was able to catch white bait (scaled sardines) a couple of months early, and he managed to bring seven grand slams to the boat in a single day—a slam is a snook, a redfish and a trout on the same trip. Hubbard advises chumming lightly with live bait and fishing them unweighted on spinning tackle around oyster bars, potholes and outside bars; http://www.captvan.com.

From Lake Okeechobee, captain Angie Douthit reports excellent crappie action, mostly in open water early and around the weeds at mid-day. Areas to try include Kings Bar, Taylor Creek, the Kissimmee River and several locations on the North Shore. Small jigs and minnows do the job. Douthit says the bass bite is on, with topwaters, soft plastics. Rat-L-Traps and spinnerbaits all effective. Tampa anglers Artie Shaw and Mike Laroche got a fish weighing more than 7 pounds, along with a lot of others on a recent trip. Some of the better areas including Kreamer and Rita islands, the West Wall, parts of Observation Shoal, Monkey Box, some parts of the North Shore, Kings Bar and J&S; .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Water is coming up fast at Rodman Reservoir, but there’s still a good chance for a 10-pound bass there for those who run wild shiners under the hyacinths. The giant baits are available at bait shops in Orange Springs and Salt Springs near the lake, northeast of Ocala.

Tribune correspondent Frank Sargeant can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

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April weather for February fishing

Posted Feb 7, 2012 by Tribune Sports

Updated Feb 7, 2012 at 02:17 PM

BY RAY MARKHAM

I know the calendar says we’re pushing mid-February, but I’m wearing shorts and a T-shirt. Water temperatures have been into the 70s, and that’s usually not something I see until late March or early April. Bait schools are scattered on the flats on high water, but hang in deep water much of the rest of the time. Schools of bait are also on beaches. This abnormal weather pattern is making fish set up housekeeping in places that they aren’t normally residing this time of year.

We’re catching fair numbers of speckled trout ranging from 15-18 inches. Lower Tampa Bay spring trout range from 18-30 inches and usually show up from March through May in the lower Tampa Bay area. Top-water lures are productive for these big fish, but a top-water bite is still pretty tough to get going on a regular basis. Subsurface lures that work the bottom of the water column, like CAL Jigs with Shad tails, MirrOlure soft plastic Lil’ John jerk baits and DOA Shrimp are still top producers in soft baits.

The approaching full moon is pushing water up higher on high tides and draining the flats on the low tides. Low negative tides have pushed fish off flats and into channels and in holes on the flats. Outside sand bars are occasionally holding pompano that will readily take a Doc’s Goofy Jig, DOA TerrorEyz, or a CAL Shad. Dragging a jig on the bottom will put a few flounder in the boat.
Redfish continue to find shallow mud flats or sand bottoms to hang on during the mid-day sun. An Eppinger Rex spoon cast well beyond the resting fish and allowed to settle before a retrieve will catch these fish when the lure is worked slowly.

Ray Markham runs the Flat Back II out of Terra Ceia and can be reached for charter at (941) 228-3474.

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Trout, reds good shallow-water options in Sarasota

Posted Feb 6, 2012 by Tribune Sports

Updated Feb 6, 2012 at 05:23 PM

BY RICK GRASSETT

Anglers fishing with me caught and released trout, reds and sheepshead in shallow water and trout, bluefish and Spanish mackerel on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay on flies recently.

A client waded several bars on both sides of the Bay and caught and released a pair of reds and an over-slot trout on a fly on one trip. A couple of days later, we caught and released a couple of sheepshead to five pounds and several trout, including a six pounder. The big trout was caught and released on a fly with a 6-weight rod! A couple of other trips produced trout, blues and Spanish mackerel on flies on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay.

Capt. Jim Klopfer, of Adventure Charters, reported good action with silver and speckled trout, flounder and whiting in deep dredge holes and canals around Bird Key on live shrimp. His anglers also caught blues in Big Pass on jigs and plugs.

Next week’s negative low tides in the morning should concentrate reds and trout in potholes of Sarasota Bay. Fishing shallow grass flats for reds and trout and deep grass flats for trout, Spanish mackerel, blues and pompano should be good options.

Rick Grassett runs the Action Craft flats skiff the Snook Fin-Addict out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key. For more details, contact him at (941) 923-7799 or visit his websites: http://www.flyfishingflorida.net or http://www.snookfin-addict.com

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Winter trout season is under way

Posted Feb 4, 2012 by The Tampa Tribune

Updated Feb 4, 2012 at 04:31 PM

BY BILL MILLER

The winter trout season is well under way, with good catches coming in up and down the Suncoast.

Captain Billy Miller is catching lots of slot-sized and oversized speckled trout in Boca Ciega Bay and the Fort DeSoto area. Silver trout, the cousin of the speckled trout, are solid along the Gulf beaches, with catches of 100 to 150 during a half-day not uncommon. Tandem soft plastics are the hot lure for specks and silvers.

The spoil islands of St. Joseph Sound are holding lots of monster trout, according to captain Brian Caudill. Caudill likes free-lined select shrimp as his go-to setup. Also included in the catch have been bluefish and pompano.

Redfish are still around Tarpon Key at Fort DeSoto. Walt and Brian Rector caught nice slot-sized reds there using live shrimp and watermelon-colored Lil Johns.

The redfish bag limit is one per person south of Fred Howard Park in Tarpon Springs. The bag limit is two per person north of Tarpon Springs.

Bait has moved around the Skyway fishing piers, and anglers are taking advantage of it. Lots of little tunny are being caught off of the deep ends of the pier by anglers tossing silver spoons. On the outgoing tide, big Spanish mackerel up to 24 inches are being caught.

Kris Stein caught and released a 150-pound dusky shark off the Redington Pier using a big hunk of kingfish for bait.

Captain Bill Miller hosts “Hooked on Fishing” on Bright House Sports Network, Channel 47. To book a charter with captain Bill or his son captain Billy, call (813) 363-9927.

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Trout bite still on fire

Posted Feb 3, 2012 by The Tampa Tribune

Updated Feb 3, 2012 at 04:47 PM

BY BILLY NOBLES

Thank God for a lying ground hog. Our buddy Phil saw his shadow, and that means a few more weeks of winter. Here in Florida, with water temperatures approaching 70 degrees in February, the bite is on.

Captain Mike ran a trip this week in Clearwater, and he reports that they couldn’t find a spot that wasn’t holding trout. The average size was around 18 inches. Don’t tell anyone, but he caught them on the DOA CAL Shad tail, with a white body and a chartreuse head. Go figure, I think that’s the only color he owns, but it works.

Captain Stephen Markovich reports that on Tampa Bay the large trout are back, along with large schools of redfish and — wait for it — huge black drum. The bait is still plentiful at the Skyway piers, but be careful, as the demolition is still going on. You don’t want to skewer your vessel on a submerged piling.

Offshore is absolutely on fire with the grouper bite. It’s a shame we can’t bring any home, because the red and gag seasons are closed. There are still plenty of other species you can bring home for dinner, though.

The amberjack bite is unreal, and they are a blast on light tackle. At around the 100-foot range, look for rock piles, as these hot spots are holding mangrove snapper. That’s if you can get past the red snapper. What a problem to have.

Catch Billy Nobles and Mike Anderson on the “Reel Animals Fishing Show” on Saturdays from 6:30-7 a.m. on WFLA, Ch. 8, and from 6-9 a.m. on 970 AM, and on Sundays from 7-9 a.m. on 620 AM. To book a charter, call 1-866-GAMEFISH or visit http://www.reelanimalsfishingshow.com.

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Weekly fishing report

Posted Feb 2, 2012 by Tribune Sports

Updated Feb 2, 2012 at 01:34 PM

BY JIM LEE

Weekly Fishing Report

Fishing results and tips for freshwater and saltwater spots, including Tampa Bay and area locations.

Freshwater

Speckled perch (crappie) are in the grass in some areas or staging to spawn in other areas. Catches are full of roe. With our mild weather, bass action is at its best. Live shiners usually take larger fish, but high numbers and an occasional big boy can be taken on artificial lures.

KISSIMMEE CHAIN: Grape Hammock Fish Camp, (863) 692-1500: Speckled perch catches have been good. The best catches are still coming in late in the evening or at night. They are staging along the grass line and may be spawning this week. Limits of bass are being taken by most. Most are in the 2- to 6-pound range.

LORIDA-ISTOKPOGA: Trails End Fishing Resort guide service, (863) 655-0134: Limits of speckled perch are filling coolers. Bass action continues to be better than expected for this time of year.

LAKE OKEECHOBBEE: Roland and Mary Ann Martin’s Marina & Resort, 800-473-6766: Bass are us, but not too many specks reported. Bass up to 10 pounds seem to be the norm these days. Limits of bass are also normal in this area.

LAKE ROUSSEAU: Captain Frank Bourgeois, (352) 666-6234: The Withlacoochee River is producing good catches of bass. Lake Rousseau bass catches are improving. Some speckled perch are being caught in Lake Rousseau.

LAKE PANASOFFKEE: Pana Vista Lodge, (352) 793-2061: Lots of bass for this time of year. Limits are the norm. Bass in the 6- to 8-pound category can be found in this lake. Speckled perch catches are spotty.

Saltwater

Catches generally remain about the same in the Tampa Bay area. Spotted sea trout are open along the whole coastline and should stay that way. Catches are good in some areas, with smaller fish found in others. Sheepshead, flounder, redfish and a few bluefish are being taken. Offshore, there are plenty of gag grouper in 40 to 50 feet, but are not legal to take. Red grouper catch numbers increased to four fish, but finding a keeper size red grouper is about 1-in-100. Both redfish and trout were on the flats this past week with the great weather we have been having. Fish the docks with live bait. Flounder are still inshore and are most anywhere from the Skyway to Crystal River. Lots of sheepshead up to 9 pounds are being caught most everywhere. Fish the docks, structure, canals and any place that will hold fish.

10,000 ISLANDS: Captain Corey McMillin, (239) 695-4420: NO REPORT.

SARASOTA: Captain Rick Grassett, (941) 350-9790 or (941) 923-7799: Wade fishing in Sarasota Bay produced redfish and trout. Another day saw Spanish mackerel, bluefish and trout caught.

RUSKIN: South Shore Bait & Tackle, (813) 641-2010: Great catches this week. Catches of trout, flounder, redfish and sheepshead continue to attract anglers in this area. Trout and redfish continue to be a little undersize, but the catching is good. Fish the Kitchen area for a mixed bag of silver trout, speckled trout and redfish. Snook are still being caught up the creeks and canals.

SKYWAY AREA: Captain Sergio Atanes, (813) 973-7132: Still catching high numbers of sheepshead in this area. Most are in the 3- to 9-pound range. Catches of 20 to 30 sheepshead are still being taken. Good numbers of redfish are also on the menu.

LOWER TAMPA BAY: Captain Tony Frankland, (813) 915-8541: Trout and snook inhabit the canals and backwater areas. Fish the deeper canals in Apollo beach, under the docks and oyster beds. Whiting are a good food fish and now is the time to find them. Snook catches are up. Sheepshead are under docks and can be caught with a shrimp tail threaded on a jig head.

UPPER TAMPA BAY: Cody’s Bait & Tackle, (813) 884-3100: Trout and redfish are in abundance in this area. Fish Canal A for reds and snook. Fish the mangroves for reds at the mouths of the creeks.

SOUTH PINELLAS: Captain Paul Hawkins, (727) 560-6762: Trout, redfish, mackerel and pompano are all around for the taking. Move fast with jigs rather than using live bait. Watch for mullet schools with redfish or trout mixed in with them.

FISHING PIERS: South Pier, (941) 729-0117: Expect the unexpected. Pier fishing offers most of the current species being caught in the bay. Fish the pier for Mangrove snapper, trout, redfish, perhaps a flounder and even a stray grouper. But you can’t keep the trout until January. Grouper are off limits.

MID-PINELLAS PARTY BOATS: Offshore bottom fishing from Hubbard’s John’s Pass Marina and Kingfish dock, (727) 393-1947: Gag grouper are not in season just as the bite gets good. Red grouper are available by the ton, but most all are short fish. The ration of keepers to undersize fish is 1-to-100. Gray snapper are big and there are plenty of them. Go offshore for a deep sea fishing extravaganza. Fish the deeper waters for great mangrove snapper catches. Black sea bass, porgies are also on the list.

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 and information. The upper bay action is picking up. Mangrove snapper, whiting and sheepshead are moving up into the bay. Weedon Island is producing trout and redfish.

CLEARWATER TO DUNEDIN: Captain Brian Mathey, (727) 667-8291: NO REPORT.

TARPON SPRINGS: Captain Rich Knox, (727) 376-8809 or (727) 808-6688: Good white bait can be found, but artificial lures are taking the trout. Cobia were sighted on the flats. Big 30 inch mackerel were spotted in a foot of water.

KEATON BEACH (PERRY): One More Cast guide service, (850) 584-9145: NO REORT.

HERNANDO BEACH: Captain Frank Bourgeois, (352) 666-6234: Fillman’s Bayou and Chassahowitzka back water areas are where the reds and trout are being caught. The trouble is that you need a shallow draft boat these days with the low tides. Fish the high tides only or you may have a problem. Homosassa is another good trout and redfish area, but watch for rocks. High numbers of trout are being reported taken in the potholes. Offshore fishing is still fantastic. Gag grouper are big and hungry, but expect to return them to the water. Many keeper-size fish are still being caught and released. Very few red grouper are being caught. You can keep four red grouper over 20 inches, but there aren’t many to find.

WEEKIWACHEE: Captain Steve Soults, Angling Adventures (352) 686-0853: Fishing up rivers is good. Also, fish Fillman’s Bayou for trout and redfish. The flats are not producing big trout.

FLY FISHING: Lets see now, mackerel, redfish, trout and sheepshead should be enough to keep any fly angler busy until we get more kingfish and cobia. Watch for schools of redfish or schools of mullet that may hold reds or trout. Go thrash the water.

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Variety, action in Sarasota and Gasparilla Sound

Posted Feb 2, 2012 by Tribune Sports

Updated Feb 2, 2012 at 12:51 PM

BY RICK GRASSETT

Due to the great, warm water that we’ve had recently, fishing has been good. Anglers fishing deep grass flats with me caught and released trout, pompano, blues and Spanish mackerel on jigs and flies recently.

Clients fished Gasparilla Sound with me on a couple of trips and caught and released numerous trout, snook, pompano and bluefish on jigs with shad tails, tandem rigged jigs and clacker float/plastic shrimp combos. With shallow water temperatures reaching close to 70 degrees in back-country areas, we saw snook moving onto the flats to feed in the afternoon.

On another trip we found several schools of little tunny feeding off Siesta Key and got a few shots at them with a fly. We went back into Sarasota Bay and caught and released about a dozen trout and a 4-pound Spanish mackerel on a fly at Stephens Point and Bishop Point. Anglers fishing potholes in shallow water in Sarasota Bay with me caught and released several trout in the 3- to 4-pound class on flies recently.

Look for little tunny, Spanish mackerel and tripletail in the coastal gulf when sea conditions are good. Fishing shallow grass flats of Sarasota Bay for trout and reds and deep grass flats for trout, Spanish mackerel, blues and pompano should also be good options this week.

Rich Grassett operates the Action Craft flats skiff the Snook Fin-Addict out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key. For more details, contact him at (941) 923-7799 or visit his websites: http://www.flyfishingflorida.net or http://www.snookfin-addict.com

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Bass bite gets hot

Posted Feb 1, 2012 by Tribune Sports

Updated Feb 1, 2012 at 07:21 PM

BY FRANK SARGEANT

Warmer weather has the bass bite going nuts at Lake Okeechobee, reports Captain Mike Shellen. He says the Skinny Dipper jerkbait, a soft plastic that’s usually Texas rigged to make it weedless, is one of the top offerings over the submerged grass all along the north shore.

Shellen also said that crappie fishing, which should be on fire, has been hit or miss for many anglers. The fish are all over the weedline one day, gone the next. This is likely to change to a strong, steady bite any day and continue through mid-March when the spawn winds up.

Rodman continues to turn out 10-pound monsters to live shiner anglers, but water levels will be on the way up soon after the drawdown, so those who want to experience this amazing bite at its best will want to go soon. Shiners and advice are available at bait shops in Salt Springs and Orange Springs.

The upper St. Johns is another prime spring area for big fish. Top Stick Marsh guide Jim Porter says he’s catching plenty of fish around the start-up of new hydrilla growth in the lake – fishing had been off there for some time after a die-off of the submerged grass. He said shiners are the top bait, but big plastic worms, spinnerbaits and topwaters also do the job. The lake also turns out whopper specks at this time of year for anglers fishing the submerged ditches with live minnows.

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Abnormally warm winter is confusing to some fish

Posted Jan 31, 2012 by Tribune Sports

Updated Jan 31, 2012 at 02:17 PM

BY RAY MARKHAM

This winter has produced some record warm temperatures. Water temperatures on the flats in Terra Ceia this week reached 72.2 degrees some afternoons. This is more typical of the water temperature in March or April.

Sheepshead should be preparing to spawn over the next month. The next full moon should find these fish getting very fat and many will spawn on this full moon or the next. But for the most part, I’m seeing fewer fish than normal. What I am seeing more of are flounder, Spanish mackerel and bluefish.

Trout are scattered on the flats, because water temperatures are not so cold. North winds this week have blown much of the water off the flats and forced fish into the holes. During cold weather, you’ll find trout in deep holes and, on occasion, if those holes are on the edges of a shallow dark mud bottom flat, trout will move up shallow to feed.

Trout favor shrimp during winter. A couple of months ago, they were eating scaled sardines and pinfish. Most baitfish leave the bay during winter. Because of this, the DOA Shrimp has produced more trout than most other lures I use now. Jerk baits are effective for trout. The MirrOlure Lil’ John, CAL Jerk Bait, and the Exude D.A.R.T. are all very productive for trout, but they will also take flounder, redfish and even sheepshead and black drum.

Redfish are still working the shallows on mud flats in the upper 60-degree water, something they would do even in 50-degree water. Reds seem to be acting as if it’s winter, even on warm days. These warm and cool days move fish and make them indecisive, leading to tough days of fishing, but for the fish, I’m sure they are wondering what season it is.

Ray Markham runs the Flat Back II out of Terra Ceia and can be reached for charter at (941) 228-3474.

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