10-15-2001, 02:25 PM
Tampa Bay Area <br>Fishing Report<br>Captain Charles Walker<br>10/14/01<br>From all reports this week it seems we are getting a little early push of kingfish in the area. Some nice ones were caught close to the beach at Redington as well as off St. Pete. Beach near the artificial reef. They all were nice sized fish over 20 pounds and were caught among schools of large Spanish mackerel. Of course Spanish mackerel is just about their favorite food when they are around. The Spanish have been large as well, from 4 to 7 pounds being the average size caught by the live bait fishermen. The only problem right now is that you will have to move around enough to find water that is free of red tide and that can be difficult as windy as it has been. There’s a front coming through today that will hopefully be gone tonight and the winds should return to normal so maybe the fishing will get back to normal as well.<br>On to the bait house reports:<br>Ruskin Bait and Tackle - 813-641-2325 – Redfish have been really abundant in our area. Trout fishing seems to be picking up in the area as well. The ship’s channel is holding some nice grouper and mangrove snapper. Snook are biting well in the river. Spanish mackerel are biting well on both spoons and live bait from the Skyway up to the Gandy Bridge.<br>Buddy’s Bait and Tackle on the Courteney Campbell Causeway in Tampa - 813-287-1026 – Lots of reds have shown up in the area. Lots of keepers and many of them are over-sized. They are biting well on pinfish and shrimp from the shop all the way to the big bridge. Lots of small snook are biting well around the floodgates and the big ones are breaking a lot of tackle in the same area. The best time to fish is at sundown and at night.<br>Bonnie’s Bait and Tackle in Clearwater - 727-446-2772- A lot of kingfish were caught in mid-week in just twenty feet of water off North Redington Beach from 20 to 30 plus pounds. Red tide moved into the Clearwater Pass this weekend and surprised a lot of people. Some kings have been caught around the artificial reef and plenty of Spanish mackerel.<br>Trappman’s Bait and Tackle on Gandy Blvd in St. Petersburg - 727-579-1414- Lots of fish have been coming in from around the bridge this week. Spanish mackerel, pompano, and sheepshead are really biting. Snook are biting well at night under the lights around the residential docks as well as some nice trout. A bunch of nice cobia have been brought by the shop this week. <br>Dogfish Tackle on Redington Beach - 727-392-6644- The backwaters seem to have been the best place to fish last week. Snook, reds and trout are biting well on the flats and around docks and bridges on shrimp, pigfish, and pinfish. <br>Don’s Dock on Madeira Beach - 727-391-3223- About the only fish we’ve seen this week came form far offshore in the 40 to 100 mile range. Very few boats went out with all the wind and red tide we’ve had.<br>Pass-a-Grille Bait and Tackle on St. Pete Beach - 727-360-6606- A lot of flounder have come in this week from our gas dock. Mangrove snapper and redfish have also been biting. Our offshore boats are going far offshore and getting some nice grouper and mangrove snapper. A nice king was caught by the “Getaway” near the St. Pete. Beach Reef this weekend.<br>The Skyway Fishing Pier - 727-865-0668 and the south Skyway - 941-729-0117- Spanish mackerel, pompano, grouper, and sharks have been coming over the rails this week. On the south side, bull reds, flounder, grouper, and sharks have all been available for the anglers that were fishing at the right time of day or night.<br><br>Folks, feel free to call any of the places in my report for more information, and be sure to tell them that you read about the fishing in their area in Capt. Charlie’s fishing report on the Internet.<br><br>If you want more information about fishing in the Tampa Bay area or wish to book a charter, simply e-mail me at captchas@flfish.com or if you wish to arrange a charter faster, call me at 727-546-7257. Be sure and visit my web site for lots more Tampa Bay Area fishing info at: http://www.floridasaltwater.com .<br><br>Good fishing and tight lines,<br>Capt. Charlie<br>http://www.flfish.com/fl<br><br><br><br>Capt. Charlie Walker<br>http://www.flfish.com