Outdoors

Daily fishing report

By ED WALKER
Published December 28, 2005

Speckled trout season opens in the southern region Sunday and the bite remains strong. For the past month, fishing for the bigger specks has been remarkable. The average size of fish being caught in the shallows has been about 2 pounds but there have been plenty of 3 and 4 pounders as well as an occasional gator. Lately we have been working the closed region south of Fred H. Howard Park where the fish have been stacked early in the day.

While fishing the north side, we usually stop at the Anclote Power Plant outflow canal and work it for 30 minutes or so to check out the bite, which is pompano and permit on good days.

There has been numerous redfish tailing in the shallows for anglers with boats capable of floating in less than a foot. Watch for reds at dead low tide or the first hour of the incoming tide. A live shrimp hooked through the tail is the easiest way to catch them. When the tide rises enough to cover the grass, the fish are less likely to show their tails but can still be caught by blind casting with artificials.

Ed Walker charters out of Tarpon Springs. Call 727 944-3474 or e-mail info@lighttacklecharters.com

[Last modified December 28, 2005, 00:37:18]