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Reds, mackerel, shark, cobia taken near marker

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BY NICK STUBBS

MEDIA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE

Published: November 3, 2009

Updated: 11/03/2009 11:31 am

Guide bites

Capt. Tom Contino, 727-862-2908, took two trips to the deep flats about a mile west of Marker No. 1 of the Cotee River. He got into bull, oversized reds, mackerel, sharks and cobia. They also landed a few small trout. The reds have been schooling, and dropping bait in the water brings the school to the surface. All of the fish were oversized and released.

Tackle shop roundup

Florida Fisherman, 727-868-6405: Jay from the shop took a beating in 6-foot seas over the weekend, but the trip to 20 to 25 feet of water off Bayport paid off. They landed a number of keeper grouper, three kings and snapper. The kings were as large as 35 pounds, and were taken while bottom fishing for grouper. Had they trolled or put out live baits, they likely would have taken all they wanted. Inshore, anglers reported success in Filman's Bayou on snook and flounder. Reds have been in Salt Springs and at Brasher Park. There has been a solid mackerel bite in 12 to 15 feet of water west of Hudson.

Salonika's Bait and Tackle, 727-849-6377: Dan reports his customers have been doing very well. There has been a strong pompano and permit bite at the Anclote power plant outfall, though the bite runs only an hour or so and you have to be there when the fish turn on. The redfish have been scattered, with Filman's Bayou producing some of the better catches. Trout fishing has been good around the mouth of the Cotee River, with fish to 20 inches reported. A number of flounder were taken by anglers fishing in Cross Bayou. Offshore, grouper diggers have been scoring keeper fish to 26 inches fishing just 18 feet of water west of Hernando County.

Fisherman's World, 727-942-8944: Matt says the kingfish bite is solid. Fish have been in 30 to 40 feet west of Clearwater, and closer to the beach on the hard bottom. One angler reported taking 11 trolling large plugs. Fish 20 to 30 pounds have been common. The mangrove snapper bite is strong, with some of the best action on rocky bottom in 40 to 50 feet. Inshore, lots of reds are being taken along the mangroves and around shallow oyster bars, though many of the fish in recent catches have been undersized.

One Stop Bait and Tackle, 727-842-5610: A regular at the shop was fishing a mile to a mile and a half off the north end of Anclote Key, where they landed a pair of keeper gag grouper. Live pinfish did the job. Grouper have been inching their way into shallower water, where they should remain until water temperatures begin to drop into the low 60s.

Dunedin Bait and Tackle, 727-736-3474: Trout fishing has been good along the Dunedin Causeway, with fish to 17 inches taking live shrimp well. There are a lot of undersized fish, so a lot of effort is needed to get a few keepers. Fishing the southeast end of Honeymoon Island, an angler landed a 23-inch flounder. He was bouncing a jig with a bit of shrimp on it. Mackerel have been running to 20 inches near Hurricane Pass. Live shrimp and Gotcha Plugs have been working, as are silver spoons. The bite is off an on depending on the movement of the schools.

Clearwater Bait and Tackle, 727-669-5455: Anglers have been catching some big reds at the small bridge on the western end of the Courtney Campbell Causeway. Fish to 35 inches have been landed, along with some slot-sized fish 22 to 24 inches. A number of snook have been caught, as well, though most have been undersized. Some black drum have been taken there, with most 15 to 17 inches. Live shrimp and fiddler crabs have been tops. Flounder 12 to 17 inches have been caught on Sand Key, west of the Belleair Causeway. Shrimp rigged on jigs and bumped along the sandy bottom has been producing.

Dubai Long Pier, 727-391-9398: Snook fishing has picked up, with a number of fish reported. A lot of short fish have been caught, with some slot-range specimens. A few oversized fish up to 38 inches have been caught. Live pinfish, shrimp and top-water plugs have been working.

Pier 60, 727-462-6466: A 35-inch kingfish was landed at the pier, with a live pinfish the bait that did it. A few others were hooked and lost. Mackerel have been around in good numbers, with plenty of fish 12 to 20 inches landed on live sardines, Gotcha Plugs and Clark's silver spoons. Lots of grunts have been caught at night, with fish 10 to 13 inches common. Live shrimp is working, as are live sardines fished on the bottom.

Nick Stubbs is founder and webmaster of Bitetracker.com, a fishing Web site specializing in daily fishing reports displayed on animated fish tracking charts.

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