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Cold Weather Will Make It Tough

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 31, 2007

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

Fresh and saltwater fishermen have been spoiled by a mild winter, but things are getting ready to change. The first chance of near-freezing weather will be moving in by midweek and will make it difficult to convince fish to bite. The bright side is most anglers will agree as a front approaches, fish turn on and feed more aggressively. So if you get on the water today or Tuesday, fishing should be excellent.
Lake Tarpon has continued to be a hot spot locally with excellent bass catches and decent speck numbers. Captain Lenny Crispino has been putting clients on up to 25 fish per half-day trip. Shiner action has been the key and triggered a 40-fish day two weeks ago. Size is still fair to average with most fish in the 1- to 4-pound range with an occasional 6-pounder mixed in. Crispino recommends as the water temperature drops, fish the heavier grasses as the thick cover can hold heat.

Last week, Lake Kissimmee saw its first big bass of the winter show up as an angler boated a 12-pound, 8-ounce bass on a wild shiner. Two 11-pounders were caught as were several in the 6- to 9-pound range. Brahma Island is producing good speck numbers on minnows and the fish had roe showing, meaning speck bedding may begin a little earlier than normal.

The phosphate pits of Polk and Hardee counties have seen speck catches stay fair, but they should improve dramatically with the soon-to-come water temperature drop. Saddle Creek and Teneroc are two pits that hold excellent numbers of crappie, as do the private Mosaic pits near Mulberry and Bartow.

For charter trip information, contact Mark Cook at (813) 846-9277 or send an e-mail

to tribfishing@aol.com.

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