Tampa Bay Area
Fishing Report
Captain Charles Walker
8/17/03
Finally, a weekend without rain and wind. At least one weekend’s worth. Of course it was so hot you could hardly breathe, but that’s August in St. Pete. for you. The only reports I’ve had this week are of redfish being caught on the flats on the south side of the Bay but you’ll read plenty of that later in the report. The offshore reports are pretty sparse since there was so much bad weather during the week.but those boats that made it out did catch some fish. Without going to the middle grounds the catches were typical for August, a few red grouper, sea bass, porgies, trigger fish, barracuda, and plenty of grunts.
On to the bait house reports:
Ruskin Bait and Tackle - 813-641-2325 – Lots and lots of redfish have been caught on the flats in our area. Lots of them in the Bishop’s Harbor area are oversized and there are plenty of trout mixed in as well. Mangrove snapper are biting on the edges of the channel and sheepshead around the pilings. Grouper fishing in the channel is touch and go, depending on who’s fishing for them.
Buddy’s Bait and Tackle on the Courteney Campbell Causeway in Tampa - 813-287-1026 – Reds, trout, and jacks are all being caught, especially when the water’s moving. The bait does not seem to matter either. Shrimp, pinfish, squid, and even frozen baits are all being eaten.
Trappman’s Bait and Tackle on Gandy Blvd in St. Petersburg - 727-579-1414- Mangrove snapper fishermen are limiting out in the morning this week. Sheepshead and pompano are biting well on the St. Pete. side. One of our fishermen brought in some 4 and five pound sheepshead late in the week fishing off the bridge.
Marina Outpost on Bay Pines Blvd. – 727-384-3474 – Reds, snook, and trout are biting well this weekend in our area on the flats and a big catch of gags was brought in by one of our anglers that went offshore.
Pass-a-Grille Bait and Tackle on St. Pete Beach - 727-360-6606- Mangrove snapper and Spanish mackerel are being caught off our gas dock. There have also been some grouper and founder picked up this week. Our offshore boats brought in some red grouper, black sea bass and plenty of grunts this week when they could get out.
The Skyway Fishing Pier - 727-865-0668 and the south Skyway - 941-729-0117- Spanish mackerel are getting a little bigger and more numerous. Mangrove snapper are just jumping on the dock. Black tip sharks and grouper are being caught regularly and the pompano are stop and go, here one day and not the next.
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
