Outdoors

Daily fishing report

By DOUG HEMMER
Published July 24, 2005

Red Tide is weakening in the lower parts of Tampa Bay. Look for small areas that don't have tinted water, dead fish or the smell of Red Tide and try to catch your bait as close to that area as possible. White bait under a cork is what most of the fish are feeding on. Be prepared to work for your fish. Every time the tide changes, areas that were producing become dead zones.

The redfish and trout are falling into the potholes during the outgoing tide. Fish the edges, not the middle. Keep a frisky bait on at all times. Most of the strikes have come from the liveliest baits.

Some of the passes are producing decent catch-and-release snook. See dead fish or smell the Red Tide and you'll want to move. The best action today will be during the afternoon outgoing tide. Cast your bait up current and let it drift naturally along the shoreline.

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

[Last modified July 24, 2005, 00:22:18]