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West Pasco Mangroves Yielding Snook, Reds

NICK STUBBS

MEDIA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE

Published: September 23, 2008

Tarpon Tom's, 727-938-2379: The action has been heating up on snook and redfish. Slot-sized fish of both species are being hooked from the Anclote River north to Hudson, with most of the action around the mangroves. Live shrimp, sardines and various artificials have been productive.

Capt. Lenny Crispino, 727-418-1113: The bass are active on Lake Tarpon. The magic depth appears to be 4 to 6 feet, with fish to 4 pounds taking topwater baits and spinner baits fished around submerged grass beds. The bluegill and shellcracker bite is on all over the lake. Live wigglers are all you need. Fish them under floats along the reeds and in pockets around lily pads.

Dunedin Bait and Tackle, 727-736-3474: The northeastern end of the Dunedin Causeway drawbridge has been a good spot for reds. Fish to 24 inches have been taking live shrimp and sardines allowed to drift in the current. Anglers have been fishing from the sea wall. A good number of trout have been taken along the northern side of the causeway, around its mid point. Live shrimp and Berkley 3-inch Gulp Strips on jig heads have been working on fish 15 to 17 inches.

Hart's One Stop, 727-938-5364: The mouth of the outfall canal at the Anclote power plant has been turning up reds 22 to 25 inches. Fish have been taking live pinfish, cut mullet and shrimp. The early morning and late day have been best. Trout have been on the flats just off the canal. Fish have been ranging from shorts to 16 inches, taking live shrimp and jigs fished over grass bottom. Jim from the shop was fishing the spoil islands along the channel coming out of the Anclote River and landed a 30-inch snook. Fish took a live pinfish. Two other hits there likely were snook, but they were not hooked. Fishing inside the Anclote River channel around rocks, he took four snapper 11 to 14 inches. Small, live shrimp on the bottom did the job.

Pier 60, 727-462-6466: A few snook are being caught at the pier, with fish from undersized to oversized taking live shrimp and pinfish. Finding fish in the slot range has been difficult. The night and early morning bite has been best. Trout fishing has been strong at night, as well. Fish to 17 inches have been common, with live shrimp and sardines either free-lined or fished under floats doing the work. Mackerel have been around in good numbers. Fish to about 15 inches are taking shrimp, silver spoons and live sardines. Mangrove snapper fishing is reliable, with fish 10 to 13 inches taking shrimp day and night, with the night bite supreme.

Redington Long Pier, 727-391-9398: Reds have been abundant, with fish to 24 inches taking live shrimp and pinfish. Some snook to oversized are being hooked on live ladyfish fished at night around the lights. A lot of flounder are being caught. Fish to 20 inches or better are taking live shrimp fished on the bottom. Live sardines fished the same way also are producing.

Clearwater Bait and Tackle, 727-669-5455: Anglers fishing along the Courtney Campbell Causeway around and under the west bridge have been finding some keeper mackerel to 14 inches. Live shrimp and sardines fished under floats have been working well. Some reds of keeper size were taken at the bridge, as well, with fish taking cut mullet and shrimp fished on the bottom. Fishing west of the Bayside Bridge has been producing some snook to 28 inches. Fish have been taking live pinfish, shrimp and topwater plugs early and late in the day. The action has been in the shallows along mangroves.

Denny B's Bait and Tackle, 813-885-9811: Some large, black drum were taken on live shrimp and crabs fished at both bridges on the Courtney Campbell Causeway. Fish to 25 pounds were landed. Whiting have been a good bet in Mobbly Bay near the site of the old Higgins power plant. Fish have been running to 14 inches and taking live and dead shrimp fished on the bottom. Some were taken on Love's tandem-rigged jigs.

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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