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Small Tarpon Taken In Anclote River

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BY NICK STUBBS

MEDIA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE

Published: March 10, 2009

Updated:

Anclote Bait and Tackle, 727-945-1808: Anglers working residential docks in the Anclote River have been hooking some small tarpon. One fish of about 20 pounds was landed on a live finger mullet. Others were hooked on shrimp. Trout have been running 18 to 22 inches along the Intracoastal Waterway off Crystal Beach. Live shrimp or sardines, free-lined or under popping corks, have been the best baits. Sheepshead have been a good bet around the Alt. 19 bridge pilings on the Anclote River. Fish to 15 inches have been common. One angler reported taking a keeper red there, as well. A few snook were caught around first light by anglers working the south side of the Anclote, near its mouth. Fish were around small mangrove islands, taking live shrimp. Most were undersized, but a couple of fish to 30 inches were reported.

Dunedin Bait and Tackle, 727-736-3474: The northwest corner of the Dunedin Causeway has been a good place for trout. Fish have been on the grass bottom and taking shrimp and Berkley Gulp strips on jigs. Oversized fish to 24 inches were reported, and in at least one case, an angler had trouble finding fish small enough to keep. A regular at the shop landed a snook that went 36 inches. It took a large shrimp fished at the Safety Harbor Pier. It was released unharmed. An angler fishing near the last bathhouse in Honeymoon Island State Park reported landing three reds to 21 inches. He used Berkley 3-inch Gulp Strips on jigs heads.

One Stop Bait and Tackle, 727-842-5610: Anglers fishing the Three Rooker Bar area were taking a good number of trout, with fish to oversized among them. Live shrimp and jigs have been working well on fish that have been slot-sized for the most. The shallows of Sand Bay, just south of Gulf Harbors, have been holding some reds. Fish have been on bars and up around the mangroves there, taking live shrimp and sardines well. Most have been 18 to 24 inches. Trout have been taken at the outfall canal at the Anclote power plant. Fish to 22 inches or better have been in deeper water at the barrel line inside the canal. Live shrimp and Berkley Gulp Strips on jigs have been best. A few small flounder were caught by anglers fishing shrimp on the bottom and the U.S. 19 bridge on the Anclote River. Most were 12 to 14 inches. Some sheepshead and snapper were caught there, as well. An angler trolling a Rat-L-Trap plug east of the bridge in the river landed a 27-inch snook.

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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