Outdoors

Daily fishing report

By JIM HUDDLESTON
Published August 28, 2005

The coastal gulf waters have cleaned up dramatically in the past week. Bait schools are showing up strong, and nearshore species such as Spanish mackerel and big mangrove snapper are being caught off the beaches. Snook and big bull redfish are roaming the shallows from Dunedin to Tarpon Springs. The cleaner water has made for very strong bites throughout the day. Locate areas where there is more water movement.

The outsides of Three Rooker Bar and Anclote are holding large schools of Spanish mackerel at first light. Look for diving terns or sea gulls to give away these speedsters' location. A small silver spoon works great in these low-light conditions. Any rock pile or structure just off the beaches is holding large mangrove snapper to 22 inches. A 3-inch greenback combined with a 1/0 hook and 25-pound leader will put some nice filets on the table for dinner.

Most anglers will be on the hunt for snook when the season opens Thursday. At daybreak, work the edges of deeper potholes and troughs just off the flats with a topwater lure. Oversized redfish are crushing the same plugs. A corked sardine has been the most productive live bait.

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 August 28, 2005, 01:14:15]