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Snook Caught, Released At Indian Rocks

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BY NICK STUBBS, MEDIA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE

Published: June 26, 2008

Tackle shop roundup

Denny B's, 813-885-9811: Tom from the shop reports a good snook outing to Indian Rocks Beach, where he caught a number of fish to 38 inches fishing topwater plugs and live pinfish. All were released unharmed. All came early in the morning, before sunrise. Anglers fishing between the mainland and the small bridge on the west end of the Courtney Campbell Causeway have been taking trout 15 to 18 inches. Fish have been taking shrimp and live sardines well, with most anglers fishing early and late in the day to avoid the heat.

Dunedin Bait and Tackle, 727-736-3474: Anglers fishing the beach at Honeymoon Island have been taking snook to better than 36 inches. Live sardines, pinfish and lures have been producing. The back of Caladesi Island, in the ferry dock area, anglers have been scoring some trout. An angler using a live, large pinfish hooked and landed a monster trout of east-coast proportions, bringing a picture of the 33-inch monster into the bait shop as evidence. Wading off the north side of the Dunedin Causeway has been productive, as anglers score trout 15 to 18 inches on live shrimp, root-beer Gulp Strips on jigs and live pinfish. Early mornings have been turning up a few keeper reds at the east end of the Causeway, near the draw bridge. An angler reported taking a fish of 32 inches there on a shrimp. An angler fishing rocks off a seawall near the Sand Key bridge reported a number of reds, all no larger than 14 inches. He used shrimp and sardines.

Fisherman's World, 727-942-8944: The snook have been all over the beaches at Anclote Key and Three Rooker Bar. Caladesi and Honeymoon islands also have been holding fish on the beaches. First light and topwater plugs have been a winning combo. Live shrimp and pinfish also have been scoring, as are Gulp Strips on jigs. Snook are out of season, so it is catch and release only. Anglers fishing the Sand Bay area just south of Gulf Harbors have been taking some slot reds on shrimp and live sardines.

One Stop Bait and Tackle, 727-842-5610: A couple of anglers who are regulars at the shop reported fishing the Tarpon Springs artificial reef and taking a couple of kings 15 and 18 pounds. They also landed a 36-inch cobia on a live threadfin. Dwayne from the shop was fishing on the west side of Anclote Key at the north end and took several trout 16 to 20 inches. Live shrimp and Gulp Strips in natural color did the job early in the morning. The back of Caladesi Island has been turning up a few reds 22 to 24 inches. Fish have been close to the mangroves and over oyster bars. A lot of the fish caught have been either undersized or oversized. Pasco #1 Reef has been holding mackerel 4 to 6 pounds. Fish have been responding to chum and taking live sardines very well.

Pier 60, 727-462-6466: Anglers fishing early in the morning have been taking good number of mackerel to 18 inches. Fishing Clark's silver spoons and Gotcha Plugs has proven effective, with shrimp and live sardines king among natural baits. The bits are off and on as the fish move by in schools. Good numbers of trout are being landed, with most being undersized. The larger fish have been 15 to 16 inches.

Redington Pier, 727-391-9398: A few tarpon are being hooked at the end of the pier, with fish 100 to 130 pounds about average. Trout fishing at night and early in the morning has been strong. The problem has been most are undersized and anglers are working hard for a few 15- to 17-inch fish. Lots of reds and snook are being hooked, with some of them oversized. Live ladyfish are working well on the snook, with pinfish and shrimp taking most of the reds.

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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