Outdoors

Daily fishing report

By JIM HUDDLESTON
Published March 1, 2005

As the inshore flats begin warming up, spring fishing patterns are more prevalent. Birds can be seen diving on small pods of whitebait and glass minnows just inside the larger passes. Bigger redfish and snook are staging up under docks and potholes throughout the shallows. With water temperatures reaching the upper 60s on sunny days, the comfort level for these fish increases and stimulates their appetites. The clarity of the grass flats creates great sightcasting opportunities.

With higher tides in the afternoon, most all of the oyster beds from Caladesi north to the Anclote area will hold schools of redfish. Using 25-pound fluorocarbon leader with a split shot keeps shrimp in the strike zone longer. The white halo of sand around oyster bars is where you need to keep the bait, as this is a highway for reds to travel and hunt.

Docks and piers are a great place to start looking for groups of snook as they make their way out of the backcountry. The shadows of these structures are where the fish lay awaiting to ambush. Increasing leaders to 40-pound test during this combat-type fishing allows a better chance of landing these linesiders. On lower tides, the sandy potholes on the flats just outside these docks are a staging area to allow easy meals as the tides pull the water out. These same grass flats found in front of canals and creeks are holding larger trout 4-6 pounds.

--Jim Huddleston charters out of Tampa, Palm Harbor and Clearwater and can be reached at 727 439-9017 or at jim@captainhud.com

[Last modified March 1, 2005, 01:11:12]