Jensen Beach Fishing Report 7-16-09

FISHING JULY 12,09


Wind from the south and south east this week has changed a few things and with it came the Dolphin. Not big Dolphin but gaffers, 10 to 15lbs fish and the bite started in forty feet of water. The bite was scattered out to 300', not every one found these fish but of four boats, three did. Live baits and trolled both caught fish it was a excellent week end. Cobia thinned, Sails became pests and the Bonita ruled with a few Black Fin to keep anglers busy. Some cold water upwelling moved the bite if you were bottom fishing or looking for baits but it was in small pockets and that may be the reason the Cobia thinned. King Mac's put on some weight, good catches reported from 30' out on live baits and dead sardines. Do you know the limit on King fish?
That cold water may be the reason the Tarpon numbers turned down, they were still on the edge but a lot less, no the Snook were still thick. Snook continue to be excellent, they are right in the trough, ten feet from your feet. Early morning being the best bite on both live and artificial, cast north or south you want your bait up close not in the gulf stream. The season opens September first, so take the barbs off your hooks. Whiting, Croakers, few Pompano, Blues and Mac's, told you surf fishing was hot.
If you like to catch big Trout and you are not fishing early you have missed some quality fish. Fishing shallow water before sun up and using top water plugs, a few 9lbs, 8lbs, 7lbs, lots of 5lbs some quality fish. Not for the table but will put a new twist on Trout catching. After sun up it is all about slot fish, sure wish I knew where the big females went. Haven't heard much on Reds this week and part of that I believe are the Trout catches, they are mixed in the same areas but that is why it is called fishing and not catching. Plenty of small Snook, lots of Jacks, plenty of Lady fish even a few Pompano made the catch list, all from the Flats. Bridges saw plenty of Snappers. Sheephead, Sand Perch and the biggest Look Downs all eating shrimp. Triple Tails on the channel markers, Pompano from the bridge at the east end of the Jensen Causeway, catch the incoming tide, nice size to these Pomp's.
Till next week, the bigger fish are usually the females, that is breeders, get your picture and release her for the next time..............HENRY

Snook Nook Bait & Tackle
3595 NE Indian River Drive
Jensen Beach, FL
(Just South of the Jensen Causeway)
(772)-334-2145
(Since 1949)
E-Mail: henry@snooknook.net
www.snooknook.net

Skyway Pier Macks And Snapper

Spanish mackerel, mangrove snapper and keeper sized grouper are keeping anglers buisy at the Sunshine Skyway Fishing Piers in the mouth of Tampa Bay.

Snapper are being caught around the pylons and rock piles. Shrimp and green backs are the best baits.

Spanish Mackerel are being caught early morning, late afternoon and around tide changes. Got-Cha plugs and small silver spoons will catch lots of mackerel.

Grouper are being caught on pinfish around the rock piles.

Skyway Pier Fishing Report 7-17-08

Fishing from the Skyway Fishing Piers, in the mouth of Tampa Bay, is best at night and early mornings. Lots of mangrove snapper are being caught at night and in the morning. Fish around the pylons and rocks when the water is moving. Live shrimp and small baitfish are the best baits and should be fished near the bottom. Spanish mackerel are biting early morning and late afternoon when the water is moving. They will also hit during the day when the tide is strong. Live baitfish, Got-Cha plugs, and Clark Spoons are the best baits. Some gag grouper are being caught early in the day from the rock piles. Pinfish are the best bait. Anglers on the South Pier are catching tarpon, pompano and blacktip sharks along with the snapper and mackerel.

North Skyway Fishing Pier
727-865-0668
10501 Sunshine Skyway Bridge
St Petersburg, FL 33701
www.skywaypiers.com/

North Skyway Fishing Pier 3-21-08

I was looking on the message board of the North Skyway Fishing Pier today. Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, silver trout, grouper, and sharks are all being caught. Spanish mackerel are providing the majority of the action. The best time to fish for them will be in the morning, late afternoon, and around tide changes. Small silver spoons, Got-Cha plugs, and live bait will get them to bite. The bay side of the pier, on an incoming tide, will be the best place and time to get a kingfish. Greenbacks and small blue runners are the best bait. Silver trout should be in large schools. Find the school and you will have non-stop action using live shrimp and Luvs-Lures. Grouper are in the rock piles. A stout rod and reel, combined with a live pinfish or greenback, will catch grouper.

North Skyway Pier Kingfish Tournament!
Our 4th annual kingfish tournament will start on March 22 from 8am until 3pm and will run every weekend for the next few months.This is a free tournament and open to all anglers.First prize will be a okuma FS65 rod & reel combo which will be for the biggest kingfish of the day.

Rules are as follows.

1.You must sign in at the north pier bait house to enter.

2.All kings must have been landed on the north fishing pier

3.You must weigh in your catch and have it logged in at the north bait house along with a picture taken.

4.At 3:30 pm the prize will be awarded to the angler with the winning catch of the day.

I want to wish everybody good luck and lets all have a great time on the pier. Tightlines everybody.

North Skyway Fishing Pier
727-865-0668
10501 Sunshine Skyway Bridge
St Petersburg, FL 33711
http://www.skywaypiers.com/

St Joseph Sound Trout In The Grass

I spoke with Pat at the Dunedin Fishing Center yesterday. He was telling me that anglers fishing the grass flats of St. Joseph Sound are catching limits of large trout. Live shrimp either free lined or suspended under a rattling float will catch the most fish, but are hard to find right now. Pinfish, and whitebait are the best alternative live baits. Gulp Shrimp in the New Penny or Nuclear Chicken colors and the D.O.A. Deadly Combo, or CAL jigs tipped with shrimp will also put trout in the cooler. Quite a few redfish are being caught on the back side of Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island. Shrimp or pinfish cast right next to the mangroves are getting the most strikes. Snook are starting to move out of the backwater creeks and bays. Live bait and top water plugs fished around dock lites at night will be the most productive. Anglers wading the North side of the Dunedin Causeway, between the bridges, are catching good numbers of trout. Sheepshead are being caught around the pylons of the bridges. Shrimp and fiddler crabs are the best bait. For more information contact;

Dunedin Fishing Center
727-738-5628
243 Bayshore Blvd
Dunedin, FL 34698

Trout Least Affected By Passing Fronts

The weater lately has been anything but ideal. This series of fronts has really affected fishing. Whenever a front comes through the fishing shuts down for a few days, especially if the water temperature drops significantly.

The trout have been the least affected by the weather. They are along the deeper flats of 3-5ft of water. A live shrimp under a popping cork with 3 ft of leader has been an extremely effective way of catching them. If you want to catch them on artificials, a 1/8th oz jighead and your favorite soft plastic have been effective.

The redfish have also been easy to find over the last week. While they have been hard to make to eat. A live shrimp has been the key. Oyster bars along mangrove shorelines have been holding good amounts of redfish. Do not think that becausethe water is shallow that the fish are not going to be there. They are extremely shallow sunning themselves trying to warm up.

The snook have not been very cooperative lately. However, they have been able to be coaxed to eat with a large amount of whitebait chum. Load your well early in the morning with the biggest whitebait that you can. When you arrive to a spot injue 10 or so baits and toss them to the area that you are fishing. The snook cannot resist an easy meal and will soon be in the mood to eat.

A large school of 30-40lb black drum has been roaming around the Pinellas Point area. A halved crab or a shrimp on a jghead will get inhaled instantly. Fight these fish on light tackle and you will have a blast!

As the weather starts to warm up, the fishing will pick up. We are almost through the winter and with the time change this sunday, we will have even more time to fish after work! Keep fishing and tight lines!

Ben Choi
727-432-7232
benchoi@tampabay.rr.com

Skyway Piers Fishing Warming Up

I spoke with the North Skyway Fishing Pier, in the mouth of Tampa Bay, this afternoon. They tell me that fishing was slow the last few days due to the cold front blowing through, but with warmer temperatures and calm winds it should pick up. Look for spanish mackerel and bonita to make a showing at the piers about two hours before, until an hour after the afternoon tide change. Live shrimp or bait fish, Got-Cha Plugs, small Kandlefish Lures or small spoons will get the most action. Use a short piece of wire leader to help prevent cut offs. Anglers targeting grouper on the rock piles are catching quite a few short fish but few keepers. Live pinfish on the bottom will catch the most fish. Also look for sheepshead around the bridges pylons. Fiddler crabs, blood worms, and shrimp will be the best baits. For more information contact;

North Skyway Fishing Pier
727-865-0668
10501 Sunshine Skyway Bridge
St Petersburg, FL 33711
http://www.skywaypiers.com/

Tampa Bay Reds And Trout On The Flats

Fishing after this last front has been extremely tough. The extremely warm seasonal weather that has kept kingfish on the nearshore reefs has passsed. The high pressure system has is holding over us continues to affect the fishing. Drifting the deeper flats during the day has produced good amounts of redfish. The redfish have been less affected by the front and therefore they have been my main target over the last week. The schools have bunched up on the deeper flats because the water is warmer there. They are most active on the outgoing tide as they wait for they wait for the tide to flush bait off the flats. The trout have also been biting strong. Larger trout have been holding in the same depth as the redfish and are extremely easy to catch. Jigging darker color soft plastics has been the key to these fish. A popping cork and a shrimp is also a very productive combination. Night fishing tends to be a lot more productive. The redfish are extremely concentrated in the underwater lights. The underwater lights warm up the water around them and are more productive than above water lights.The snook have been hard to get to eat. The key to hooking these fish is to get a well full of whitebait and chum the lights heavily. Slip in the biggest whitebaits that you have in with the chummers and you will have success!

Tight lines and Happy Holidays!!

Ben Choi

727 432 7232

North Skyway Fishing Pier Dec.'07

I checked the Sunshine Skyway Fishing Piers message board today, www.skywaypiers.com/discus/ , to see how the fishing is at the piers. Spanish mackerel are thick at both piers and will hit Got-Cha Plugs, small silver spoons, and Kandlefish Lures. A few king mackerel are being caught. Drift a large greenback, blue runner, or hardtail away from the bridge to catch the kings. Use about 6" of wire leader and a stinger rig tied to 6' of 40lb mono leader to improve your chances of landing a king. Grouper and lane snapper are being caught around the rock piles. Pinfish and greenbacks are good baits for the grouper. Sheepshead have moved in around the pylons. Sand flees, fiddler crabs, live shrimp, bloodworm's, and green mussels are the best baits. Use 6' of 25lb - 30lb fluorocarbon leader and size 1, J hooks to increase your odds of catching some of these striped bandits. Also, drop your bait to the bottom, or at least underneath the fish you see. Sheepshead up in the water column usually will not bite. Wait untill you feel a light tap on your line, and set the hook hard on the second tap.

Spanish Macks And Silver Trout In Gulf

I spoke with Pat at Dunedin Fishing Center in Dunedin this afternoon. He was telling me that there are lots of spanish mackerel being caught in the Gulf right now, but every thing else is slow. King mackerel are scattered and hard to find. If you are going to slow troll for spanish, keep your largest bait in the prop wash and rigged with a stinger rig just in case a big kingfish shows up. To save on fule costs, you can ancore outside any of the local passes and hang a block of chum over the side of your boat. Use a sabiki rig or cast net, to catch what ever bait fish are in the area, and free line your bait in the chum slick. Rig with 30lb-40lb fluorocarbon or mono leader and about 6" of wire leader. I also spoke with Tom at Big Pier 60, on Clearwater Beach. He tells me that his customers are catching there limit of spanish mackerel and lots of silver trout. The spanish can be caught on Kandlefish Lures, Clark Spoons, Got-Cha Plugs, and live bait. The Silver trout will hit cut bait, live shrimp, and Loves Lures. For more information contact;


Dunedin Fishing Center
727-738-5628
243 Bayshore Blvd
Dunedin, FL 34698

Big Pier 60
727-462-6466
Clearwater Beach, FL

Everything Biting At North Skyway Pier

I spoke with the North Skyway Fishing Pier this morning, and they say that every thing is biting. Huge schools of small white bait have invaded the pier, bringing all of the predator fish with them. Use a sabiki rig or a cast net with a 1/4" mesh to gather your bait.Spanish mackerel, large bluefish, and bonita are creating most of the action. About 6" of wire leader is needed to prevent cut offs from there razor sharp teeth. If the fish start shying away from the wire, switch to 6' of 40lb to 60lb mono or fluorocarbon leader and long shanked hooks. After every hit, check your leader for nicks and re-tie if needed.The whitebait are the best bait right now but small silver spoons and Got-Cha Plugs will also work. A few king mackerel are being caught. Tie a balloon above your leader with a rubber band and float you bait away from the pier. Blue runners, hardtails, and greenbacks will be the best baits. Use a stinger rig to increase your odds of hooking the kings. Tarpon and cobia are hitting on top of the water. Watch for them cruising the pier and try to drop your bait in there path, but far enough ahead of the fish, to not spook them. A few grouper are being caught off of the bottom. White bait and pinfish will be the best baits. For more information contact;

North Skyway Fishing Pier
727-865-0668
10501 Sunshine Skyway Bridge
St Petersburg, FL 33711
http://www.skywaypiers.com/

Early Kings Invade St Petersburg

I spoke with Larry at Mastery's Bait & Tackle Inc. in St Petersburg today. He was telling me that water temperatures have cooled slightly, huge schools of bait fish have shown up, and fishing has really turned on. Spanish mackerel have invaded the beaches from Pass-a-Grill, to the Clearwater hard bottom. Small silver spoons, Got-Cha Plugs, and small white bait, or what ever baitfish are in the area, are the best baits. Use 30lb leader or a short piece of wire to hold cut offs to a minimum. The early arrival of king mackerel is the big surprise this year. A few kingfish are being caught by anglers fishing for spanish mackerel in 20ft of water just off the beach. A lot of the kings are small, but a few in the 6lb - 20lb range are being taken. Most are being caught using light tackle and the same techniques used for spanish mackerel. If you suspect king mackerel are in the area, switch to heavier gear and suspend a blue runner under a balloon behind your boat. The Skyway Bridge Fishing Pier and the Gulf Pier at Fort DeSoto Park are great places to catch mackerel if you don't have a boat. Early morning, late afternoon, and two hours before until an hour after a tide change are the best times to fish these piers. Snook are starting to move off the beaches and into Tampa Bay. Good spots to look for snook now are the 'Clam Bar', which sits on the bay side of the Skyway Bridge Causeway between the Misner Bridge and the Bucnass Pass Bridge, Pinellas Point, the St Petersburg Pier, Coffee Pot Bayou, and Weedon Island. Small white bait and pinfish are the best baits for snook. Trout fishing is starting to get good. Look for trout on the grass flats of Pinellas Point and Fort DeSoto Park. Live shrimp, finger mullet, D.O.A. Deadly Combo, and Berkley Saltwater Shrimp in New Penny are the best baits. Redfish are every where. Look for them around docks, mangroves, oyster bars, and other structure, especially if it holds bait. Shrimp, gold spoons, and cut mullet or ladyfish are the best baits. For more information contact;

Mastry's Bait & Tackle Inc.
727-896-8889
1700 4th St South
St. Petersburg, FL 33701

As The Water Cools, The Fishing Heats Up

I spoke with Pat at Dunedin Fishing Center this afternoon. He was telling me that the water has cooled a few degrees and it has caused the fish to become more active. The beaches of Honeymoon Island, Caladesi Island, and Three Rooker Bar are holding good numbers of pompano and hitting. The pompano are biting best on sand flees and Silly Willy jigs, the whiting will hit shrimp fished on the bottom. The back sides of Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island are holding schools of big redfish. Look for them on the shalow flats during the higher parts of the tide, and in the deeper holes and channels at low tide. Shrimp, cut mullet or ladyfish, white bait, and gold spoons are all good baits for these big reds. Snook fishing is very good at night around dock lights. A frisky greenback is the best bait along with various hard baits. For more information contact;
Dunedin Fishing Center
727-738-5628
243 Bayshore Blvd
Dunedin, FL 34698

Good Snook Action In Dunedin

I spoke with Pat at the Dunedin Fishing Center this afternoon. He was telling me that the continuing hot weather is making most anglers stay home during the day and saving there fishing time for the more comfortable late afternoon to early morning hours. Those getting out between 6pm and 9am are finding lots of snook on the beaches of Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island, and in Hurricane Pass. With a slot limit of only 5", few of these fish are going home for supper. Pat was telling me that he fished the Gandy Bridge on Tuesday night and caught 3 snook, all over the slot size. The best baits for snook are large pinfish, white bait, and ladyfish. Pompano are starting to show in better numbers on the beach, in Huricane Pass and on the edges of the grass flats of St Joseph Sound. Sand flees, pompano jigs, and shrimp all work well on pompano. Trout fishing is good on grass flats in 5' to 7' of water. Shrimp fished just over the grass, D.O.A. Shrimp, Berkley Saltwater Shrimp, jigs, and jerk baits are catching most of the trout. Redfish are around but you have to look for them. Most of the reds will stay in deeper holes or back in the mangroves during the day. White bait, shrimp, and cut mullet or ladyfish are the best baits.Tarpon are scarce now. Most have migrated past the area or moved into Tampa Bay.Pat reports that a good number of bull sharks are being caught. He stocks bonita for those going shark fishing at night. For more information contact;
Dunedin Fishing Center
727-738-5628
243 Bayshore Blvd
Dunedin, FL 34698

Hot August Fishing In St Petersburg

I spoke with Larry at Mastry's Bait & Tackle Inc. in St Petersburg this afternoon. He was telling me that in spite of the hot August weather, and high water temperatures, fishing in lower Tampa Bay is excellent. The best time to fish is still 6pm to 9am, but daytime fishing around the Skyway bridge and the deeper grass flats of Pinellas Point and Fort DeSoto is producing tarpon, trout, and mangrove snapper. Look for tarpon cruising the shadow line of the Skyway Bridge and fishing pier. Free line a crab, pinfish, or greenback in the shadows to jump a few tarpon. Speckled trout fishing is excellent in the deep grass flats. Jigs and jerk baits swam just over the grass is producing most of the trout. Large numbers of good sized mangrove snapper are being caught around bridges and rock piles. Larry was telling me that he prefers to fish for snapper at night on the incoming tide. Use 30lb fluorocarbon leader and just enough weight to hold your bait on the bottom. White bait is Larry's favorite for snapper, but shrimp, greenbacks, dead shad and pinfish also work well. Pinfish will catch the larger snapper and will also produce few grouper. If you get cut off by a grouper, switch to a heavier leader. Spanish mackerel are sporadic but can be found on the deep grass flats, The Pier in St Petersburg, and range markers. Live bait on a short piece of wire, small silver spoons , and Got-Cha Plugs will catch Mackerel. Snook season opens this Saturday, September 1st. New rules are in effect so check the FWC web site, http://www.myfwc.com/, or the post on this site, New Snook Regulations, for more information. Look for snook on the beach. They will hit a wide variety of live baits and lures including white bait, greenbacks, pinfish, CAL jigs, DOA Terror Eyz, and top water plugs. The best snook fishing will be at night and just before dawn. For more information contact;
Mastry's Bait & Tackle Inc.
727-896-8889
1700 4th St South
St. Petersburg, FL 33701

North Skyway Pier

I spoke with the North Skyway Fishing Pier in the mouth of Tampa Bay today. They were telling me that the very hot weather recently has kept most of the fish and fisherman away. Almost all of fish that are biting are being caught between 6pm and 9am when temperatures cool a little. Short grouper and mangrove snapper are making up the majority of fish that are being caught. The grouper are hitting pinfish on the bottom during a strong tide. Snapper fishing is good and should be improving even more with the approaching full moon. Shrimp and small bait fish will produce a limit, (10" size limit, 5 fish/day), of nice sized mangos in a few hours. A few cobia and sharks are also being caught at the pier. Large pinfish will catch both. For more information contact;
North Skyway Fishing Pier
727-865-0668
10501 Sunshine Skyway Bridge
St Petersburg, FL 33711
http://www.skywaypiers.com/

Ruskin Flounder Are In, Drum & Snapper Are Large

I spoke with Patty at Ruskin Bait & Tackle in Ruskin today. She was telling me that some nice flounder are being caught in Bishops Harbor and Cockroach Bay. Small pinfish bounced across sand, mud, or rock bottom will catch the flounder. Large black drum, 32" - 36", are being caught in the Manatee River on crabs and clams. Tarpon are also in the river and will eat crabs and greenbacks. Redfish are holding under mangroves, docks, and anything else that will provide shade. Cut mullet, ladyfish, and live shrimp or Berkley Saltwater Shrimp in the New Penny color are the best baits. Speckled trout are holding low in the grass and will eat live shrimp and pinfish. Snook are in the channels and reefs of lower Tampa Bay. Large pinfish are the best bait. Snook season is still closed so bend down the barbs on your hooks, land the fish as quickly as is possible, and spend extra time reviving your snook before releasing it. Some cobia are being caught from Piney Point to the Skyway Bridge. Cobia are not shy or smart, so almost any live bait, large jig, or noisy plug that will get there attention will catch them. Snapper are still large, 2lb - 3lb's, and plentiful in lower Tampa Bay. Look for them around rock piles, pylons, and other structure. Live shrimp and small pinfish are the best baits. For more information contact;
Ruskin Bait & Tackle
813-641-2325
1519 US Highway 41
Ruskin, FL 33570

North Skyway Pier Producing Grouper & Snapper

I spoke with the North Skyway State Fishing Pier near St Petersburg this afternoon. Mangrove snapper and gag grouper are keeping pier anglers very busy there. Late in the afternoon until early morning is the best time to fish, although some fish can be caught during the day around tide changes. Large snapper, around 14" - 18" , are being caught around the inside pylons and rock piles from around mid span to the end. Shrimp, greenbacks, and threadfins are the best baits. Keeper sized grouper are being pulled from the reef by the bait shop. Greenbacks, shrimp, and frozen squid are the best baits. Most pier anglers are fishing the bottom. Use just enough weight to hold your bait near the structure you are fishing. For more information contact;
N Skyway Fishing Pier State Park
727-865-0668
10501 Sunshine Skyway Bridge
St Petersburg, FL 33701
www.skywaypiers.com/

Dunedin Fishing is Great Early and Late

I spoke with Pat at Dunedin Fishing Center in Dunedin today. He was telling me that fishing is great if you go out between 6pm and 9am. Redfish are being caught on shrimp and cut bait, mullet or ladyfish, near the north end of Caladesi Island. Speckled trout are in deeper water from St. Joseph Sound to Clearwater. Live shrimp, D.O.A. Shrimp or Berkley Saltwater Shrimp, in New Penny or Root Beer & Gold, will catch quite a few trout. Good number of pompano have moved into Hurricane Pass. Sand flees, shrimp, and pompano jigs fished from the pet beach on Honeymoon Island will catch lots of pompano. The pet beach, the north end of Honeymoon Island, and along the beaches of Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island are also great places to catch big snook. The biggest pinfish you can find will be the best bait. Please remember that snook season is closed so bend down the barbs on your hooks, land the fish as quickly as is possible to prevent it form getting over stressed, and spend less time handling the fish and more time reviving it before release. A few tarpon are off the beach. Look to see what direction the fish are moving, then swing well outside of them and past them before putting out a spread of crabs and sardines on the bottom and under floats. For more information contact;
Dunedin Fishing Center
727-738-5628
243 Bayshore Blvd
Dunedin, FL 34698

Bradenton

I spoke with John at Corkey's Live Bait & Tackle in Bradenton this morning. He was telling me that fishing is great even with the summer heat. The key to catching fish this time of year is to skip the daytime heat and thunderstorms by fishing between 6pm and 9am. Palma Sola Bay is holding good numbers of speckled trout and redfish. Look for the trout on the deep flats when it is light out, and around dock lights at night. Live shrimp, jigs or a D.O.A. Shrimp or Berkley Saltwater Shrimp, in New Penny or Rootbeer colors, suspended under a popping cork or Cajun Thunder Float will catch many trout. Redfish are on the flats in Palma Sola Bay and in Sarasota Bay. They will eat live shrimp and very small pass crabs. Snook fishing is excellent in Long Boat Pass and along the beaches. Large pinfish are the best bait. Snook season is closed so bend down the barbs on your hook to make releasing the fish easier, land your snook as quickly as is possible to keep the fish from being over stressed, and spend extra time reviving your snook before releasing it.Tarpon are just off of the beaches. Blue crabs and pass crabs are the best bait. Good numbers of permit are being caught on wrecks 45 miles offshore. Blue crabs and pass crabs are the best bait. Lots of sharks are being caught. Chunks of bonita are a good bait for sharks. For more information contact;
Corkey's Live Bait & Tackle
941-792-7901
10103 Cortez Rd W
Bradenton, FL 34210