Outdoors

Daily fishing report

By DAVE WALKER
Published April 12, 2006

After several windy days, anglers in Tampa Bay have returned to the water. With the return of four-tide days and the approaching full moon, fishing should be as good as it gets in our area.

Snook are going crazy on the flats and are sharing their surroundings with redfish. This time of year, there is a lot of species overlap. When you are fishing for redfish, a snook will come along, and vice versa.

The addition of live bait can enhance opportunities. Although traditional seasonal artificial lures will work consistently, live bait is hard to beat on any day.

Obtaining live bait has been difficult. Heavy winds and scarce baitfish have made for some long mornings for anyone collecting sardines. As an option, shrimp can be purchased at most bait shops. It saves fuel and is much easier than chucking a cast net dozens of times. Usually sardines will outperform shrimp when fishing for snook, but many species love shrimp and will eagerly whack a tasty crustacean.

The kitchen area of the gulf has yielded nice catches of snook and reds. Be careful in this area. There are numerous oyster mounds which will be covered at high tide. A little farther south, Cockroach Bay has been a good spot as well. The incoming tide is best.

Spanish mackerel should arrive by the weekend. These seasonal crowd pleasers will be a sight for sore eyes. They are really fun and easy to catch.

Dave Walker charters out of Tampa. Call 813 310-6531, e-mail dwalker12@tampabay.rr.com or visit www.snookfish.com

[Last modified April 12, 2006, 01:07:16]