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Good-Sized Gags, Mangos At Skyway

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 22, 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.

Most fishing venues are beginning to spring back to life with the arrival of fall and cooler conditions. Fish appear to be more comfortable and much more willing to strike one's bait.

This has been evident at the Sunshine Skyway piers, where general manager Mike Tyson said fishing is definitely on the upswing.

Pier anglers are reeling in more keeper-sized grouper and mangrove snapper, even some scamp and flounder. He said the snapper have been in the 'take-home-for-dinner range,' all over 15 inches.

In addition, there are now more Spanish mackerel showing up - most are being caught on cut greenbacks or live shrimp under a float - fishing the bait about 5 feet deep.

But this is only the beginning. In another couple of weeks, Tyson expects the macks to arrive in even greater numbers.
Captain Joe Hebert brought his clients to a favorite redfish hole near Honeymoon Island, where he spotted some oversized reds in muddy water. He decided to anchor up and chunk up some ladyfish.

Dead sticking the chunks on a couple of rods, not a minute had gone by before one of the rods went off. Then, before the first fish was in, the other rod sprung in to action.

Two reds in the 30-inch range also were hooked. There, they continued to reel in several hungry redfish, ranging from 19 to 31inches.

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

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