Outdoors

Daily fishing report

By CHUCK ROGERS
Published February 5, 2006

Near-record rainfall in the central bay area has swollen creeks and drainage canals to flood levels. The water flowing into the bay is generally a few degrees warmer and will attract fish. This fast water also will bring large amounts of sediment that attract baitfish such as creek chubs and finger mullet.

The best approach is to free-line live shrimp with the current, keeping the line slightly slack so the shrimp looks natural. If the flow is too rapid, use split-shot weights to keep the bait near bottom.

Artificial baits also will work in these outflows. Darker colors worked slowly along the bottom do well on redfish, trout and an occasional flounder.

This week we have some great day tides. The water will flow fast through all the passes in the lower part of the bay. The sandy areas along the edge of the passes will have flounder waiting in the sand for an easy meal.

Depending on the speed of the current, use a one-eighth or quarter-ounce jig head tipped with live shrimp or a small finger mullet. If you don't have live bait, cut bait will work. If the current is slow, it helps to move your bait with a slow retrieve.

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 February 5, 2006, 01:22:20]