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Suncoast Pinellas News

Cool weather brings hope and a bit of a mess

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BY NICK STUBBS

MEDIA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE

Published: October 20, 2009

Updated:

With water temperatures unseasonably high prior to the weekend, the front that arrived was just what a lot of anglers were hoping for. It turned out to be a little more than most wanted, which means it may be toward the end of the week before the water clears and things stabilize enough for the fish, bait and anglers to rebound.

When it does, look for the kingfish run to officially get started.

Fish were being caught in handfuls offshore, with most being small schoolies. The cold will surely push more fish south, so now it is just a matter of finding the depth range holding fish. Longtime anglers who fish off Hernando and Pasco are well aware they fish could pass by in 70 feet of water or more, though the hope is they will be running through the shallower depths.

Inshore, the change in weather will mean focusing on river and creek mouths, as well as back bays and bayous. Fish will begin to stack up there, particularly in or near deeper water. Overall, we're still in a fall pattern, it's just a matter of a few days to rebound and let the fish adjust to the sudden change.

Tackle shop roundup

Florida Fisherman, 727-868-6405: The weekend was a blowout with the bad weather around the front, but anglers are anxious to get back at it. Matt from the shop says the front is what should turn the corner on the fall kingfish run. There were scattered fish prior to the cold, and the temperature drop should be the switch that flips on the action. By week's end we should know. The mangrove snapper bite should be strong as well, with 40 feet of water a good place to focus. Inshore, a couple of warmer, clear days should get the fish into a feeding mood, as they return to their routines.

Fisherman's World, 727-942-8944: The nasty weekend weather kept anglers off the water for the most, but the cooling effect on the unusually warm water should be a good thing. Jay from the shop says the reds that were in Filman's Bayou this week should still be around and feeding, being a hardy species. Mackerel have been scattered around up and down the coast from the deep flats out to 50 feet, with some kings mixed in. Look for the kingfish run to kick off this week. Grouper are shallow, with fish being taken from choice rock bottom in as little as 12 feet of water. The fish will remain shallow until the water gets a few degrees colder. At that point they will move to their winter haunts farther offshore. Blue crabs are taking to the change in weather, and reports are that they are showing up in big numbers.

Dunedin Bait and Tackle, 727-736-3474: The trout fishing along the north side of the Dunedin Causeway has been on, with fish to 19 inches reported by anglers fishing live shrimp and pinfish under popping corks. The back of Caladesi Island was turning up some reds to 30 inches, with fish around mangroves and oyster bars. Shrimp and pinfish have been top baits. A couple of regulars at the shop reported working 30 to 35 feet of water west of Clearwater scored a few kings over three trips. They were trolling King Spoons and casting spoons and live bait from anchor. They didn't land any better than 30 inches.

One Stop Bait and Tackle, 727-842-5610: An angler fishing from his dock in a Gulf Harbors canal landed a 20-inch permit that took a shrimp on a yellow jig bounced on the bottom. Another angler fishing off Howard Park over the grass bottom reported several keeper trout to 18 inches. They used jigs with Gulp Strips and live shrimp. Offshore anglers fishing 30 feet west of the north end of Anclote Key took grouper to 28 inches and some mangrove snapper to 18 inches. They got some of the grouper on Stretch 25 plugs. Bottom fishing produced the rest, along with the snapper. Mackerel were being taken around Marker No. 4 west of Gulf Harbors, but the last report was prior to the front. The temperature drop may have impacted the schools, at least temporarily. Mackerel were around in good numbers in the deep cut at the north end of Anclote Key. Some fish to 30 inches were being landed. A few cobia were reported on the flats at Sand Bay, just south of Gulf Harbors. A lot of short fish were spotted, but some to 37 inches were taken on live shrimp or pinfish.

Pier 60, 727-462-6466: The front chased the anglers off, as the chilly winds, cool, murky water and lack of bait slowed things to the standstill. A warming trend and calm days to clear up the water should be all it takes to see the action pick up. The flounder bite was decent, with fish to 17 inches landed on jigs tipped with shrimp. Some cobia have been around the pier, with a couple of keepers landed prior to the front's arrival. Some gag grouper to 20 inches were landed, along with seabass to 12 inches and some grunts to 14 inches.

Dubai Long Pier, 727-391-9398: The first significant cold front of the fall has turned anglers and fish off. The winds and rain that led the front stirred up the beach waters, and the chill in the air and water resulted in few anglers at the pier. Among those who have been fishing, some good sized flounder are being caught, with a number of them between 18 and 24 inches. Shrimp and Rip Tide artificial shrimp have been working well. Leading up to the front, some numbers of snook to 32 inches were being landed, along with some drum to 16 inches. A few kings have been landed over the last week, with one or two a day to 30 inches typical.

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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