Tampa Bay Area
Fishing Report
Captain Charles Walker
5/4/03
I told you a couple of weeks ago that the fishing would be great if the cold fronts would just leave us alone. They have and it is! Grouper are biting in the shallow water areas and all up and down the ship’s channel. King mackerel and large Spanish mackerel are being found inside Tampa Bay, up and down the beaches, and offshore around the reefs and wrecks. Cobia are starting to invade the area and some beautiful barracuda are taking up residence on rocky patches offshore and the wrecks and artificial reefs. Lots of small sharks have moved into the area over the last couple of weeks and frequently make it difficult to catch kingfish because they are so aggressive and just take over a chum line. But that’s what makes fishing around here so much fun; you just never know what the next bite might bring.
On to the bait house reports:
Ruskin Bait and Tackle - 813-641-2325 – Cobia are biting on the flats along with snook, trout, and reds in the *beep* Bay area. Grouper and mangos have been coming in from the shipping channel this week along with a lot of Spanish mackerel and some kings.
Buddy’s Bait and Tackle on the Courteney Campbell Causeway in Tampa - 813-287-1026 – Trout and reds are biting well around the big bridge on live shrimp and chubs. There have been some sheepshead brought in this week as well.
Trappman’s Bait and Tackle on Gandy Blvd in St. Petersburg - 727-579-1414- Cobia and tarpon are biting on small crab, pinfish and shad. Trout are on the flats around Weedon Island. Some reds are coming in from Weedon Island and the bayous.
Don’s Dock on Madeira Beach - 727-391-3223- Blackfin tuna are being caught offshore in 90 + feet of water behind the shrimp boats. Amberjack are on just about every wreck in the Gulf right now. Plenty of large Spanish mackerel and kingfish have been coming in this week from just off the beach and around the local reefs and wrecks. Cobia fishing is really taking off here in the Pass for anglers using live pinfish this week.
Fathoms on the Dock at Maximo in St. Petersburg – 727-867-3603 – Flounder are biting well around Tierra Verde. The biggest one we saw this week was 8 pounds. Lots of Spanish mackerel are biting this week around the Skyway and the artificial reef just inside Egmont.
Pass-a-Grille Bait and Tackle on St. Pete Beach - 727-360-6606- Our offshore boats have been brining in some grouper along with lots of grunts, trigger fish, and some nice amberjacks on the all day trips. Anglers on our gas dock have been catching Spanish mackerel, sheepshead, and some grouper.
The Skyway Fishing Pier - 727-865-0668 and the south Skyway - 941-729-0117- Spanish mackerel, cobia, and some nice grouper have been caught this week. The slow tides are not great, but there are still kings coming in on both piers. Mangrove snapper are starting to pick up and some pompano are starting to show up.
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.
If you want more information about fishing in the Tampa Bay area or wish to book a charter, simply e-mail me at [email protected] 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 .
Good fishing and tight lines,
Capt. Charlie
http://www.flfish.com
