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Fish Tales
Full moon brings out fish
By TYSON WALLERSTEIN
Article published on Thursday, March 16, 2006 |
March is definitely living up to its reputation. Strong south winds have been a mainstay over the past week, leaving anglers with some decisions to make about where to fish and which species to target.
Offshore grouper anglers that were hoping to get out deep and capitalize on the warm weather were held at port until the winds began to subside on Sunday. And the reports that I have received have been excellent.
Tuesday’s full moon has brought on a tremendous snapper bite. Large mangrove snapper ranging from 5 to 7 pounds were brought in from the 80 to 100 feet depths west of the ship’s channel. Mixed in with the mangos are the occasional red snapper and gag grouper.
Those seriously targeting the gag grouper should set their sights toward the middle grounds. This area is producing great catches of gags and snapper and now is perhaps the best time of year to book a trip aboard the Viking out of Tarpon Springs or the Florida Fisherman out of Madeira Beach. These are huge vessels and the moderate fronts that we’ve been experiencing will not keep them in port.
Redfish are definitely making their presence felt on the inshore scene. Anglers fishing the waters around St. Josephs sound in Clearwater have been seeing numerous schools of slot sized reds. Following the schools of mullet will assist you in finding the redfish. Be sure to check the outside spoil islands at the lower tidal stages and the main islands like Caladesi or Anclote on the higher tides.
There should be plenty of trout around the same areas. With the big boost in water temperatures and influx of bait fish in our area, those trout should be more than willing to attack a top-water bait. Work the low light hours in the shallows for the big gator trout, my gage is if the mullet can squeeze up in the shallows, so can the trout. So don’t ever think you’re too shallow.
Speaking of trout, anglers at the Redington pier have been catching plenty of good sized silver trout. Although the trout can be targeted by daylight, the night bite has by far been the better. New lights drape the pier and are attracting schools of baitfish and in turn the predators. Tandem rigging two Spro one-quarter ounce buck tailjigs with a soft pastic trailer will often result in a double hook-up.
Until next week – GET BENT!
Tyson Wallerstein can be reached at tyson1@tampabay.rr.com. If you have a fish picture you would like to see published in the newspaper, send it with your name and where you caught your fish, 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, March 16, 2006
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Tampa Bay Newspapers
9911 Seminole Blvd.
Seminole, FL 33772
(727) 397-5563
Open Monday-Friday
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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