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Weekend Outlook Looks Good

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 12, 2008

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.

After a week of acclimating to the new, cooler conditions, most species appear to be coming out to feed again. And with the approaching full moon, tides should significantly pick up this weekend and into next week. Those mostly morning outgoing tides should trigger an enthusiastic bite.

Captain Pat Damico has been catching good numbers of reds in and near Bunces Pass using small jigs. Working the Boca Ciega flats, he also is landing several nice trout and the occasional bluefish.

Earlier in the week, captain Mike Davis and Lakeland's Shawn Raulerson fished the chilly, 55-degree waters of South Pinellas, where they caught two fat 25-inch redfish, several rat reds, a few flounder and bluefish using watermelon Gulps.

Sam Jones of Gainesville never had much success trolling plugs for grouper. However, fishing with a couple of buddies out of Cedar Key on Sunday, he tried dragging a pair of big-lipped plugs and caught several nice gags and two red grouper. At the ramp they were greeted by a friendly Florida Fish and Freshwater Conservation Commission officer, who asked, "Did you do any good?"

The team unloaded their catch, prompting the officer to call over his partner to look at all the fish. Then the other people at the ramp came over to see the great catch.

"I felt a bit like some kind of celebrity," Jones said. "It was a sweet ending to a sweet day."

Hear "The Captain Mel Show" Saturdays from 6-9 a.m. on WFLA, 970 AM. Also, visit

"Fishing Florida OnLine

Magazine" at capmel.com. Magazine" at capmel.com.

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