Fishing Reports

OFFSHORE

This past week has been a blowout for most charter skippers looking to do offshore runs, but in the few days that were fishable, Spanish mackerel and kingfish have been active. Schools of large macks are being caught on most of the artificial reefs from Sarasota to Clearwater. Spanish in the 5-pound range are being caught. Clearwater Beach Marina reported good action on Spanish in 30-to 50-feet of water west of Clearwater Pass while working over hard bottom areas. Gag grouper just undersized and a few in the legal size range are also being caught over the Sand Key hard bottom.

Hernando county guide Frank Bourgeois of www.alwaysfishing.com fishing out of Hernando Beach reported excellent trout fishing on the deep grass flats in 8-to 10-feet of water. Spanish mackerel have been plentiful on the artificial reefs and at the tank in 22-feet of water. Bourgeois also reported some excellent grouper action while fishing jigs in shallow water for trout.

In Bradenton reported good action in 50-feet of water for kingfish, gag and red grouper, mangrove snapper, and cobia.

West Coast anglers are primed for the Old Salt King Fall of the Beach Tournament this weekend, being held at the Madeira Beach ball field at 200 Rex Place. The Captain’s Party and meeting will be Thursday, November 8 at 6 p.m. Tournament fishing on Saturday will conclude with the weigh-in at the ball field. Anglers will be vying for cash and prizes that benefit area charities. For information, go to the Old Salt website at www.oldsaltfishing.org.

INSHORE

In Crystal River I caught trout to 24-inches while fishing the flats west of the river. Messier has also been concentrating on snook in the Salt River and catching legal fish on Zoom Flukes, Berkley Power Baits and Gulp, and Bass Assassin Jerk baits rigged on the combination of Long Neck DOA worm hooks with Pinch Weights from DOA.

Out of CB Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key reported good action on trout while fishing Terra Ceia Bay.

Tampa Bay water temps fell to the low 60’s this week as a cold front passed, reducing the snook bite to a nibble. Cooler water temps have pushed the bite later into the day after water temperatures rose above 68-degrees in some areas. Top spots include areas with dark muddy bottoms that absorb the sun’s rays quickly, raising the water temperature.

Good Spanish mackerel fishing inside the Egmont Ship’s Channel has been the norm for anglers tossing Gotcha Jigs, spoons, and feather jigs.

Redfish schools have been smaller this week and fish have been more skittish in the shallow water. Good catches of reds in the low-to-mid range slot are being caught on CAL Shad tail jigs in the Weedon Island area, along the South Shore near Ruskin, and in Terra Ceia.

Catch and release speckled trout fishing has been excellent, despite the drop in water temperature. DOA Deadly Combinations and DOA Shrimp in the new “Carbonated” colors are attracting excellent numbers of trout up to 22-inches in the lower part of Tampa Bay in potholes and channels on lower tides.