08-13-2001, 12:19 AM
Tampa Bay Area <br>Fishing Report<br>Captain Charles Walker<br>8/12/01<br>Offshore fishing picked up a little this week, but most of the good catches were coming from 30 miles+ offshore. The occasional catch of legal grouper came from the 65 foot depths, but pretty much like the rest of the summer so far, that’s been hit and miss. There are still good numbers of mangrove snapper out in the 80 foot depths and a few dolphin have been reported around floating grass and debris.<br>On to the bait house reports:<br>Ruskin Bait and Tackle - 813-641-2325 – When the weather is nice, like it has been this week, lots of people to go fishing. The red are biting well as are the trout. Trout are getting a little smaller at this time of year. Snapper and grouper are still biting in some parts of the ship’s channel. Cobia are still hanging around some of the markers in the bay looking for a handout and there are still a lot of tarpon in the river.<br>Buddy’s Bait and Tackle on the Courteney Campbell Causeway in Tampa - 813-287-1026 – Some redfish and stingrays have been caught this week along the causeway. A few trout have been brought in the shop caught from the causeway flats on small pinfish and live shrimp. A few cobia were caught this week around the bridges and some snook have been caught and released at the flood gates.<br>Bonnie’s Bait and Tackle in Clearwater - 727-446-2772- Lots of tackle is being lost to jewfish on some of the artificial reefs this week. Barracuda are biting well on live threadfins. Keeper grouper came in from 65 feet of water early this week north out of Clearwater. Back inshore, the tarpon are just crashing on the bait along the Indian Rocks artificials just off the beach. Pompano and mangrove snapper are biting well along the bridges inside Tampa Bay. Some pompano are coming in from the south side of Clearwater Pass.<br>Trappman’s Bait and Tackle on Gandy Blvd in St. Petersburg - 727-579-1414- Mangrove snapper are biting well at the bridge again this week. Both bridges are producing pompano quite well. Reds are biting around the Fourth Street bridges and north on shrimp and gold spoons.<br>Dogfish Tackle on Redington Beach - 727-392-6644- Lots of Spanish mackerel are coming in from the Pier. Snook and reds are biting well at night. Tarpon are still along the beach and feeding well. Anglers on the Pier this week managed to bring in both a jewfish and a king mackerel.<br>Don’s Dock on Madeira Beach - 727-391-3223- Red grouper are starting to pick up in the deeper water from 80 feet on out to the Middle Grounds. Spanish mackerel have really piled up on the Beaches feeding on glass minnows. Snook are biting at night in the Pass on live bait. Some reds and trout are coming from the grass flats inside the pass.<br>Pass-a-Grille Bait and Tackle on St. Pete Beach - 727-360-6606- Black drum, Spanish mackerel,<br>mangrove snapper, grouper and some blacktip sharks have been caught off our dock this week. Some flounder have been caught along the seawall this week as well. Our offshore boats are brining in nice catches of grouper and mangrove snapper from the deeper water 30 to 45 miles out.<br>The Skyway Fishing Pier - 727-865-0668 and the south Skyway - 941-729-0117- Lots of fresh water is coming down the Bay this week with all the rain of the last couple of weeks. Cobia, tarpon, grouper, yellowtail jacks and Spanish mackerel have all been caught this week in spite of that. On the south side, lots of Spanish mackerel and some good sized grouper have been brought in this week. Pompano are being caught along the first little bridge and on the south causeway this week as well.<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