Outdoors

Daily fishing report

By CHUCK ROGERS
Published March 22, 2005

Action last weekend in the central part of the bay was the best it has been all year. Water temperatures are almost perfect. The bait is here, and the Red Tide that has haunted the lower part of the bay did not reach that far.

The snook bite has improved. All the usual spots are stacked. The morning bite has been slow because of low water and cooler temperatures. As the afternoon tide creeps in, the fish that have been in the shallows have warmed up enough to eat.

At the Tampa Marine Institute Inshore Tournament at the Tampa Bayside Marina this past weekend, competitors caught 80-inch snook, 20-inch trout and smaller reds.

Large schools of black drum have reached Weedon Island. Pods of 75-100 fish from 25-40 pounds are milling along the outer edge of its flat. The fish are working their way to the bridges in the upper part of the bay, where they will spend most of the summer. They are spawning and not interested in eating. Your best chance is a live shrimp on the bottom.

--Chuck Rogers charters out of Rattlesnake Point Outfitters at Bayside Marina in Tampa. Call 813 835-1919 or e-mail at rspo@tampabay.rr.com

[Last modified March 22, 2005, 01:22:12]