Daily fishing report

By ED WALKER
Published April 19, 2006

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Light-tackle fishing is as good as it gets for inshore anglers. Many migratory species have moved into the area, adding more options to the spectacular bite taking place. On most days, a few casts of the net provide plenty of lively scaled sardines.

Once bait is secured, what to target? Lately, we have been running off Honeymoon Island, often passing frenzied pods of Spanish mackerel, to 35 feet of water, where we found giant schools of 8- to 14-pound kingfish. Anchoring and chumming with live bait brings these speedy game fish right to the boat, where they can easily be caught with a fly-rod or light spinner.

After a few hours of nonstop kingfish, we ran the crab trap buoy lines as we worked our way back to the flats. Nearly every day we encounter a tripletail or two hovering below one of the plastic foam floats. The ones willing to bite join the kings in the cooler. Lately, some of these fish have exceeded the 10-pound mark.

On the grass flats, big trout have been grouped in areas that hold large amounts of glass minnows. Once you pinpoint their location, catching and releasing several dozen is not uncommon. Snook fishing has been best later in the day. Save a few special-purpose baits (extra-large sardines) for the late-afternoon tide. Many big snook have been caught after 4 p.m. lately in the North Pinellas and Pasco areas.

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