Saltwater fishing: Redfish are the best bet around Tampa Bay

1. At Big Pier 60 in Clearwater, the first couple of days after the storm, it was nothing but catfish. On Saturday, limits of Spanish mackerel started coming in and anglers were “pulling them in left and right.” On Sunday, a huge, bull redfish that was too big for a pier net, was caught. Since Monday, the mackerel are biting along with speckled trout. Some keeper size sheepshead are biting on the pilings. A juvenile scalloped hammerhead shark was caught on Tuesday, reports Big Pier 60 Bait & Tackle (727-462-6466).

2. At Madeira Beach, when winds permit, the nearshore hogfish bite is really good at a depth of 30 to 80 feet. Schools of kingfish and Spanish mackerel start showing at about 50 feet. The lane snapper bite has been “insane” beginning at 70 feet. Big mangroves, gags and red grouper are in the mix. Deeper offshore, past 120 feet, black fin tuna are starting to show, reports Capt. Dylan Hubbard of Hubbard’s Marina (727-393-1947).

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3. At John's Pass, redfish action is your best bet around the pass. The jetties and the docks are producing on live shrimp and cut bait on the bottom. The flounder and sheepshead bite is good and there are snook in the pass. Speckled trout are biting at night and inside the back bays during the day, reports Hubbard.

4. At Fort De Soto Park, there are snook around the marina along with sheepshead and flounder. A lot of trout and redfish are being caught on the flats around Conception Key, the Soldier’s Hole and the maintenance area. The Bunces Pass bridge is producing minimum keeper size gag grouper on pinfish. The little bridge has been good for sheepshead. At the pier, there’s Spanish mackerel, jacks and sheepshead on the pilings, reports Capt. Claude Hinson of Tierra Verde Bait and Tackle (727-864-2108).

5. Around the Sunshine Skyway and lower Tampa Bay, cooler water temps have the snook in their fall feeding patterns. The mouth of the Manatee River and the docks are holding good size fish. Redfish and trout are holding in the same areas and there are good numbers in Terra Ceia and Miguel Bay. The gag grouper bite inside the bay is good while trolling the shipping channel edges and bottom fishing on structure, reports Capt. John Gunter of Palmetto (863-838-5096).

6. At Anna Maria, the inshore estuaries such as Terra Ceia and Palma Sola Bay are holding snook. Redfish are in the mix and an occasional school wears anglers out. Trout are biting on the area flats. Before the storm, kingfish and Spanish mackerel were off the beach. As the winds lie down, their numbers should increase again, reports Capt. Shawn Crawford of Florida Sport Fishing Outfitters. (941-705-3160). 

7 At St. Petersburg, redfish action is good along the north shore from Weedon Island to the St. Pete airport. The residential canals and oyster bars along the south shore to Pinellas Point have redfish. The canals have sheepshead around the docks and some snook, reports Capt. Chuck Rogers of Finsanity Charters (813-918-8356). There’s been a good cobia bite and some flounder caught under the Central Avenue Bridge at Sunset Park, reports Andrew Schleissing at Treasure Island Bait and Tackle (727-343-4181).

8. In the north end of Tampa Bay, redfish are all over the upper bay, especially the oyster beds around Rocky Creek and Double Branch. The area flats and bridge approaches have good trout. Better numbers of sheepshead, whiting and a flounder are showing up around the bridges. Black drum are biting at the bridges. There are good numbers of Spanish mackerel up in the bay. A few keeper size gag grouper have been caught at the Gandy, and their numbers increase going south along the channel to the Skyway, reports Gandy Bait & Tackle (813-839-5551).

Elsewhere

• At Homosassa, speckled trout fishing is very good on popping corks and watermelon, red flake color MirrOlure Lil Johns. Water with a depth of 3 to 4 feet with rock grass or broken, yellow bottom has the best bite. Redfish are good on live shrimp or pinfish on the incoming tide. The best bite has been on the outside keys. Snook are staging near the river mouths, passes and creeks. Glow color D.O.A. CAL Shad Tails on a jig are producing, reports Capt. William Toney of Homosassa Inshore Fishing Charters (352-621-9284).

• At Fort Pierce, offshore a few kingfish have been caught on the troll at a depth of 80 feet. Mangrove and mutton snapper are biting on the bottom at the same depth. At the inlet, whiting are in the surf to the south. Keeper mutton snapper are biting from the jetty. A 20-pound redfish was caught in the inlet along with some jacks. Black drum, sheepshead and sand perch are biting around the bridges. The Melody Lane Pier and the “wall” are also producing sand perch. The spillway is still producing snook. Pompano are biting in the river to the south, reports Clint Walker at the Fishing Center of St. Lucie (772-465-7637).