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Power Plant Jumping, Despite Recent Warm Weather

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BY NICK STUBBS

MEDIA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE

Published: January 13, 2009

Updated:

Warmer weather has meant water temperatures are up in the Gulf of Mexico, but that doesn't mean the winter action at the Anclote power plant outfall canal is over. The Progress Energy site remains a magnet for trout, reds, snook, permit, pompano and cobia. The odd black drum, sheepshead and exotics to include wayward bonefish are not unusual this time of year. It is a smorgasbord.

The key to fishing the outfall is to decide where to start fishing. When the temperatures plunge, fish will be inside the canal, and it's not unusual to see a lot of the action and the barrel barrier line that prevents anglers from getting too close to the power plant.

If warm water is being expelled by the plant, the action heats up. A favorite tactic is to fish live jumbo shrimp on nothing but a hook, called free-lining, casting up the canal and allowing the current to carry them back to you. Anglers must reel slowly and be award of the slightest tick on the line, which signals the bite. It can be difficult to feel the strike when the bait is moving toward you.

Permit and pompano are another target in the canal when the water is cold in the gulf. Small pompano jigs, yellow or white, tipped with frozen shrimp are tops. Jig them with twitches of the rod, allowing the jig to fall toward the bottom. Most strikes occur on the fall.

When the weather is warmer and Gulf temperatures are up to 65 or better, a lot of fish will fall out onto the grass flats just off the mouth of the canal, looking for food. Jigging is a great way to cover a lot of water here. Vary the retrieve to determine what is best. In cool water, fish sometimes like a slower-moving bait.

Look for cobia to stick closer to the deeper channel running out of the canal. Live pinfish are a top bait, but plastic artificial eels in black are another favorite.

Whether fishing inside or outside the canal, moving water is important. The outgoing or incoming tide is a green light for fish and anglers.

Tackle shop roundup

Dixie Lee and Bait and Tackle, 352-596-5151: Offshore anglers have been working 10 miles west of Weeki Wachee and finding mackerel 12 to 17 inches. Live sardines have been a good bet when fished under floats, but Clark's spoons and Gotcha Plugs have been producing, as well. Oyster bars near the mouth of Jenkin's Creek have been giving up some reds 18 to 22 inches. A few fish of 30 inches or better have been landed and released. Live shrimp has been tops. Fish have been taken around mangrove lines when the tide is up. Inside the creek, trout have been a good prospect. Lots of keeper-sized fish are being reported, along with some oversized. Jigs with soft, root beer colored tails, and shrimp have been best. The bite has been stronger early and late in the day.

Clearwater Bait and Tackle, 727-669-5455: Anglers have been picking up a few reds and some snook fishing the area at the end of Bayview Drive. The reds have been running 18 to 25 inches and the snook have been undersized. Live shrimp and various jigs with soft plastic tails have been working well. A number of trout are being taken on the back of Sand Key just south of Clearwater Pass. Fish have been mostly slot-sized to about 20 inches. There have been a few oversized fish reported. They have been taking live shrimp and Berkley 4-inch Gulp Strips in root beer color. Anglers fishing the north side of the Courtney Campbell Causeway on the Clearwater side have been catching a good number of trout 15 to 20 inches. A few fish to 22 inches have been reported. Live shrimp has been working well.

Pier 60, 727-462-6466: Silver trout fishing is on. Anglers are catching lots of fish 10 to 13 inches. Live and frozen shrimp is working, with the bite day and night. A few whiting are being taken, as well. Mackerel have been around, though running small at 10 to 14 inches. Live sardines, shrimp, Clark's silver spoons and Gotcha Plugs have been the top baits. Sheepshead fishing has been strong, with plenty of 12- to 16-inch fish being caught. Live shrimp, fiddler crabs and sand fleas are good baits. Trout are running 17 to 20 inches, with a few as large as 25 inches caught. Live shrimp and sardines either free-lined or under floats, are good baits.

Redington Long Pier, 727-391-9398: Trout fishing has been good, though most fish have been undersized. The fish that do measure are topping out at about 17 inches. Live shrimp and sardines fished under floats around first light have been producing best. Top water plugs have been working, also. Several bonnet head sharks have been landed. Most are 24 to 36 inches, taking live shrimp and cut bait well. Silver trout fishing is solid, with good numbers of fish 10 to 13 inches taking shrimp. Whiting are running about the same size and taking the same baits. Sheepshead are running 12 to 18 inches and biting well on shrimp, fiddler crabs and sand fleas.

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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