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Multiple Flats Trips Encouraging

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 15, 2007

GO FISHING is a daily look at the area fishing scene through the eyes of local charter boat captains and fishing guides. Today: Mel Berman.

This past week, we spent the mornings drifting on some of our local flats. It was a real serendipitous experience - we never knew what kind of fish would strike our baits. We encountered very low, outgoing tides during most outings, which limited where we could fish. But we quickly discovered that the last of the outgoing provided the most action. Then there was that short lull before the tides turned and the bite picked up again.

Monday, my friend "Fireman John" Litz and I caught a great variety of species, including a very fat speckled trout. The way it fought when John hooked it, we were both convinced it was much bigger. But the feisty trout, just 22 inches, made up in girth what it lacked in length.

On Tuesday, I had the pleasure of fishing Sarasota Bay with captain Rick Grassett. Even though it was one of those one-tide days, we couldn't keep the numerous Spanish mackerel off our jigs.

Then on Wednesday morning, we were fishing the low outgoing again with Tampa's Jim Plastic, working the flats along the Clearwater Intracoastal Waterway. We tossed Old Bayside Shadlyns and absolutely tore them up until the tide stopped. In addition to the several larger trout, we landed an assortment of other species - including a very nice 20-inch pompano that Plastic caught.

Hear "The Captain Mel Show" on Saturdays from 6-9 a.m. on WFLA, 970 AM. Also, visit "Fishing Florida OnLine Magazine" at capmel.com.

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