Fish Tales
Stronger current will bring better fishing
By CAPT. TYSON WALLERSTEIN
Article published on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008  |
Big tides will be a welcome sight this week. Hot water and last week’s slow moving tides translated into tough fishing. This week’s full moon will bring much better tides and in turn better fishing.
Inshore anglers should look no further than the redfish for the best action on the flats. Schools of reds can be found in areas such as Tierra Verde, Boca Ciega Bay and Anclote Key and just about any big oyster bar all throughout the Intracoastal Waterway at high tide will be holding at least a few reds.
Pompano fishing was the one highlight of the week; we found schools of pompano around Clearwater Pass and the southern end of Anclote Key.
Fishing the channel edges and nearby cuts with 3/8 ounce Silly Willy jigs produced a number of good sized pompano. The outgoing tide proved to be best, but it also was the best moving tide.
Dock light fishing for snook is a great option for those anglers wanting to stay out of the heat. Many dock lights from John’s Pass to Tierra Verde are loaded with snook right now. For the fly-fisher these conditions are perfect. The baits that the majority of these fish are looking for is pretty small and best represented with small white flies. Spin and plug anglers will pick up their share of fish using D.O.A. shrimp, Maverick’s and 19mr Mirror Lures.
Mangrove snapper are prime targets for pier fishermen at the Skyway piers. Limits of snapper are easy to come by if you fish it correctly; deploy a chum block near the bottom using a chum cage with some weight. Then set your baits 20 or 30 feet down-tide of the block. Best baits include: fresh cut threadfins or scaled sardines and small shrimp. A 30 pound leader is all you need, just enough weight to hold it to the bottom and a No. 2 hook.
Tyson Wallerstein can be reached at capt.tyson@hotmail.com. If you have a fish picture you would like to see published in the newspaper, send it with your name and where it was caught, to: “Fish Tales,” Tampa Bay Newspapers, 9911 Seminole Blvd., Seminole, FL 33772, or e-mail it to editorial@TBNweekly.com.
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Article published on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008
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