Outdoors

Captain's Corner

By DOUG HEMMER, Times Correspondent
Published September 20, 2007

What's hot: Anglers in lower Tampa Bay are reporting great catches of trout on artificial lures. Most have been using small jigs worked close to the bottom. Areas that got hit hard by Red Tide are now holding good numbers of trout. Try the flats inside John's Pass and work south until you reach Pinellas Point. Look for areas where sand meets grass. Concentrate casts around schools of bait that rain on the surface. The best depths are 3 to 6 feet. Work the jig slowly across the bottom. Most of the trout are 12 to 18 inches. Squeeze the barbs flat using a pair of pliers. This helps you release undersized trout unharmed.

Tackle: Ultralight spinning gear helps you feel the strikes. Braided line increases sensitivity. The best jig colors have been motor oil, root beer and white. Drifting the area allows you to cover more ground. When fishing early, try a topwater plug that has a rattle. Work it along the dropoff of the flats. This gives you a shot at the bigger trout. When the sun gets high, switch to jigs.

Tip: When using a topwater plug, wait until you feel the trout on the line before setting the hook. Most fish are missed when anglers try to set the hook during the surface strike.

Doug Hemmer charters out of St. Petersburg. Call (727) 347-1389.

[Last modified September 19, 2007, 19:37:59]