Some of the most enjoyable and productive fishing in the bay area is also the simplest. Grab a couple of rods, a handful of lures, and a spool of leader, and drive from spot to spot until you find fish.

Our area is loaded with bridges, sea walls and piers. Most inshore species can be caught here, including snook, jacks, trout, ladyfish, flounder and bluefish.

The best times are usually an hour either side of sunrise or sunset, and on the solunar periods. Spinning or casting gear from 10-14 pounds is about right. I like 30-pound fluorocarbon leader, tied with a loop knot.

Floater-diver plugs work well before dawn -- make mine black with gold sides -- while plastic shrimp and tiger-tail jigs seem better in daylight. Work them slowly. It's good to flatten barbs on treble-hooked lures. Hooks are easier to set, and unwanted fish easier to release.

The rock piles lining approaches to most bridges are often best. Start on the up-tide side, casting up-tide and cross-tide. Don't cast too far. More than 10 feet out from the rocks, you're fishing for jacks and ladyfish. Snook and trout generally hit very close to the rocks -- often, just as you're lifting the lure from the water. You'll catch more fish in these areas from shore than from a boat, as your lures come toward the rocks where gamefish pin their prey.

Once the sun's up, stand back from the water's edge a bit. Snook, in particular, stick around after they spot you, but won't hit.

-- Capt. Archie Giannella charters out of Tampa on The Noble Neil and can be reached at (813) 251-5512 or by e-mail at CaptArchie@mindspring.com.

Back to Sports

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright

From the Times sports desk

Bucs

Bounced

Coach, players share blame for botched fake

Rushing, red zone offense almost nonexistent in loss

Deep passes catch secondary off guard

Bear beats Bucs for big plays

Game balls

Bucs quotebook

Bears quotebook

Gimme five

Sound bites

Gramatica can't save day

Colleges

Bulls begin by facing old wound

Not too high, not too low

Graham accuses Seminole of purposely causing injury

UF blanks Georgia in soccer tourney

Bowden wants to make good use of final games

Hurricanes are convinced -- so are the Orangemen

Sports Etc.

Last lap one too many for Nadeau

A fourth title gives Gordon elite status

2-0 Bulls halfway to 2000 total

Dudley on the future, guarantees, Lecavalier

Daily fishing report

From the wire

From the state sports wire Jacksonville's Spicer placed on IR after leg surgery
FIU-Western Kentucky game postponed because of Jeanne
Brown anxious to face old team for first time
Dolphins' desperate defense readies for Roethlisberger
Former Sarasota lineman sheds tough-guy image with Michigan
Rothstein rejoins Heat as assistant
No. 16 Florida has history on its side against Kentucky
FSU and Clemson QBs both off to slow starts