Outdoors

Daily fishing report

By DOUG HEMMER
Published March 10, 2005

Flats fishing over the past week was outstanding. We found large schools of trout hanging close to the dropoff side.

The larger trout would move onto the flats when the water level reached 12 inches. On days where the low tide was a -0.8 or lower, we would work the 3- to 4-feet range. When the incoming tide started, we could follow the larger trout onto the flats. We used motor oil colored jigs and jerk baits.

Redfish numbers are growing on the flats. Small schools were moving through shallows at low tide. At higher tides, the reds bunched to form a large school. Sometimes they were slow to feed. Most of the reds were caught on a slow moving scented jig or a large live shrimp hooked through the tail.

The best part of our trips are spent fighting large black drum that are migrating in lower Tampa Bay. The schools are in the 30- to 60-pound class and are normally in the Intracoastal Waterway. Red jigs and artificial crabs produced nonstop catch and release action. The black drum are easy to find on the days the schools work the surface. These are breeder drum that take on the color of a redfish. If you see a yellowish gold spot out in the channel, cast a jig into the middle and work it through the colored area.

Doug Hemmer charters out of St. Petersburg. Call (727) 347-1389.

[Last modified March 10, 2005, 01:15:14]