07-29-2001, 07:41 PM
Tampa Bay Area <br>Fishing Report<br>Captain Charles Walker<br>7/29/01<br>Another short week because of the weather. The first half was blown out with all day storms moving across the coast back to back. It looks like this coming week will be a half week as well if the weathermen are close but maybe we’ll be able to fish the first half at least.<br>On to the bait house reports:<br>Ruskin Bait and Tackle - 813-641-2325 – Red fishing has really picked up this week. Trout are still biting well in our part of the Bay. Catch and release snook fishing has been really hot. Tarpon are still being caught in the river. Some cobia are still being caught around the markers in the Bay. Grouper and snapper are being caught from the ship’s channel edges.<br>Buddy’s Bait and Tackle on the Courteney Campbell Causeway in Tampa - 813-287-1026 – Some trout and reds have been brought by the shop this week. The top bait is still live shrimp. Black drum are biting well around the bridges for anglers using blue crabs on the bottom. <br>Bonnie’s Bait and Tackle in Clearwater - 727-446-2772- Grouper and snapper are still being caught in the Middle Grounds. A lot of small blacktip sharks are being caught right on the beach. Pompano are biting in the surf as well, even on cut dead shrimp. The bridges are producing some nice pompano catches as well. Some grouper are being found in 40 to 50 feet of water. It seems that everyone wants to go shark fishing this month. Some oversized reds are being caught on the oyster patches early in the morning on live shrimp around the area in the Intracoastal. <br>Trappman’s Bait and Tackle on Gandy Blvd in St. Petersburg - 727-579-1414- Mangrove snapper are still biting well around the bridge and in the channel. A LOT OF BIG Spanish mackerel are coming in from the vicinity of the bridge and the markers. The 4th St. Bridge is really starting to turn on. Snook and reds are biting well there on shrimp and drum are feeding on blue crabs. Catch and release snook fishing has been really good around Weedon Island this week.<br>Dogfish Tackle on Redington Beach - 727-392-6644- Pompano have been biting on the pier this week. Whiting are still biting from the beach. Reds are biting around the pier and at night snook and trout are biting well.<br>Don’s Dock on Madeira Beach - 727-391-3223- The grouper fishing has been good in the 100 foot depths and deeper. Mangrove, lane, and yellowtail snapper are all biting in the 90 foot and deeper reefs. Inshore, lots of snook are biting at night on live bait and shrimp. Lots of reds are being caught on the flats inside the pass this weekend along with a few trout<br>Pass-a-Grille Bait and Tackle on St. Pete Beach - 727-360-6606- Snapper, grouper, snook and reds have all been caught off our gas dock this week. Spanish mackerel have been biting well along the sea wall. Our offshore boats are bringing in a nice assortment of grouper, snapper, and amberjack.<br>The Skyway Fishing Pier - 727-865-0668 and the south Skyway - 941-729-0117-.Mangrove snapper, grouper, jacks, silver trout, tarpon, and sharks are all being caught off our pier this week.<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