Tropical storm activity in the gulf has affected bay area waters for nearly a week. Finding clean water hasn't been easy. Luckily, redfish don't mind murky water and feed actively if there is something to feed on. Fish rely on smell when clarity is poor. Using live bait will turn the odds back in your favor.

Diving birds and jumping mullet are good indicators of an area holding fish. Deeper grass flats have been producing action from bluefish, trout, Spanish mackerel and a few juvenile sharks. Most action takes place when there is good water movement. Schooling jack crevalle ranging from 3-10 pounds can be found in most residential canals. They're not hard to spot; just look for a moving mound of frothing carnage. Active feeding jacks will eat nearly anything you can throw at them. Jacks make poor table fare but possess a fighting ability that has earned them the nickname "the bulldogs of the sea."

Structure-oriented fish such as grouper, black drum and snook can be found around bridges throughout the bay area. Black drum have an affinity for live crabs. Snook and grouper are more likely to hit a large diving plug or crank bait as well as live pinfish and grunts. Heavy tackle is a must. Lock down the drags and don't stop cranking once you're hooked up.

-- Capt. Dan Brooks charters out of St. Petersburg and can be reached at (727) 867-7856 or by e-mail at captaindan@baysbestcharters.com.

Back to Sports

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright

From the Times sports desk

John Romano

Superb? Yes. MVP? No way

Colleges

DB intent on doing his part

Dorsey bothered by hits from BC

WRs help with balance

State practice report

Baseball

Schilling doesn't help

AL: Red Sox run out of chances

NL: Wild card, maybe West, in Giants' reach

Baseball notebook

Preps

It takes a Goober to cheer a Gryphon

Transfer rallies Tornadoes

Packers refocus after tragedy

Sports Etc.

Match play an unending drama

NASCAR suspends chief Elledge

Notebook: Faulk returns to field, but status remains unknown

Trainer unsure on weekend

Notebook: Lemieux envisions busy year

In brief

Monty forever in praise of Payne

Outdoors

Daily fishing report

Rays
A plus for Sturtze: It's over

Strong relief work earns James a start

Bucs
Rounding into form

NFL fines tackle for leg whip

Bucs might bolster offensive line depth

Lightning
Eight power plays and no goals in a 3-0 loss to the Hurricanes

Lightning works to be quicker on the draw

From the wire

From the state sports wire Jacksonville's Spicer placed on IR after leg surgery
FIU-Western Kentucky game postponed because of Jeanne
Brown anxious to face old team for first time
Dolphins' desperate defense readies for Roethlisberger
Former Sarasota lineman sheds tough-guy image with Michigan
Rothstein rejoins Heat as assistant
No. 16 Florida has history on its side against Kentucky
FSU and Clemson QBs both off to slow starts