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Bait Schools Will Bring Better Action

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 4, 2007

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

Large schools of glass minnows and small bait fish have made their way to the Gulf beaches and into Tampa Bay, and fishing is about to get really good. Mackerel, bluefish, sharks, tarpon, jacks, ladyfish and many other fish will be gorging themselves on these tiny bait fish.

Casting live white baits or greenbacks into the bait schools will usually result in a fast bite. A light rod with a wire leader and hook to match the small bait size will handle most of the smaller fish. A bigger rod will help with the tarpon and sharks.

Trolling spoons around the bait schools, not through them, will produce action, as will casting a jig or plug.

Reports from Cedar Key and Yankeetown indicate the fall redfish bite is under way. Captain Zach Lewis has been doing well with reds around the hard, rocky bars using artificials. Jon Campbell, fishing with captain Jimmy Keith, easily reached the limit on redfish by using pinfish around the spoil banks.
Captain Billy Miller hit his limit on grouper and snapper fishing the edge of the ship channel. Small white bait was the bait of choice for snapper, while medium pinfish worked best for grouper.

Snook are being caught downtown along the Hillsborough River. Big baits fished around the Davis Islands and Brorein bridges are getting oversized snook at night.

Captain Bill Miller hosts 'Hooked on Fishing' on Thursdays and Sundays from 7-8 p.m., and Fridays and Mondays from 11 a.m.-noon on Bright House Networks Catch 47.

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