Fishing Reports

OFFSHORE

Pelagic action nearshore is taking the limelight this week. A strong bite has been on nearly every day with Spanish mackerel to 4 or 5-pounds, kingfish to 20, and bonito up to 12-pounds has been reported. Fishing out of CB Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key has been working west of Big Sarasota Pass and Point of Rocks in 25-feet of water. Trolling with Mann’s Stretch 25 plugs, Ryan’s clients have been catching loads of Spanish and king mackerel. The bonito, (a.k.a. LT, little tunny, false albacore), have been voraciously feeding on baitfish schools in the area and the trolled lures are working well.

Spanish mackerel, kings, and bonito still continue to hit on the nearshore reefs off Pinellas. Both fish and bait schools seem to thin out at mid-range areas.

Once again, anglers are tuning up for the largest kingfish tournament on the West Coast. The Old Salt Fall King of the Beach Tournament is slated to run November 8 and 10 this year at the Madeira Beach Ball Field at 200 Rex Place in Madeira Beach. Numerous prizes abound in this tournament that benefits the Children’s Dream Fund, TASCO, and PARC. A guaranteed $10,000 cash payout to first place, plus cash prizes paid back for the first 25 places. Twenty-fifth place pays out $5,000 cash, and custom Dogfish Sticks will be awarded for 26 through 35th place winners. Separate single engine division prizes are available with bonus money of $500 from Mastry Engine Center for a Yanmar powered vessel with the largest fish. For details, go to www.oldsaltfishing.org

Grouper fishing has been good overall but fish continue to move, making targeting them a little difficult. A cold front with some “teeth” could bring fish into normal depths for this time of year and have them settle in for awhile as the water temperature declines. Good depths recently for gags have ranged from 45-to 65-feet of water west of shore from Sarasota to Pasco Counties, and from 15-to 25-feet of water from Hernando north to Citrus Counties, but for local waters, normal depth ranges should be between 25 and 50-feet right now. Just work some hard bottom areas where you typically find kingfish in the fall and it’s a good bet you’ll find a few gags as well. Good action from Hernando Beach west of Weeki Wachee was reported by anglers working 25-to 30-feet of water with Mann’s Stretch 25 plugs and gold Bomber lures.

One of the new lipped Rapala X-Raps has been a shining bait for Homosassa guides working out of MacRae’s and Homosassa Riverside. Just to the south between Homosassa and Weeki Wachee, guides running out of David Strickland’s Chassahowitzka River Lodge are experience similar action. For area information contact www.visitcitrus.com.

INSHORE

Trout fishing has been nothing short of stellar from Sarasota to Tarpon Springs in the South Region. Larger fish and greater numbers seem to be moving in inside bays over the past couple of weeks. Terra Ceia and areas of the lower Tampa Bay area have experienced an influx of good numbers of fish ranging up to 22-inches. The DOA Deadly Combo has been taking some of the best catches with the new “Carbonate Series” colors of shrimp on the clacking rigs. The season draws to a close next week on October 31 for two months in the South Region. Anglers catching trout south of the Pinellas/ Pasco line must release all speckled trout after that.

Excellent catches of Spanish mackerel have been reported inside Tampa Bay. Out of Ruskin reported macks to 4-pounds in the bay. Siesta Key reported some good action inshore while fishing live shrimp and Exude RT Slugs between Blackburn Point and Stickney Point in Sarasota. Klopfer reported some activity on jack crevalle, ladyfish, and mangrove snapper in the area as well.

Redfish catches continue to shine in the northern reaches of West Central from Hernando to Citrus County. Capt. William Toney reported some great action with both reds and trout on the CAL Shad and DOA glow Shrimp while fishing barrier islands between Chassahowitzka Point and the Crystal River Power Plant.