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Many Redfish Too Big To Keep

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 10, 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.

It's a problem most anglers don't mind - hooking redfish too big to keep.

Though these bulls are not destined for the table, they're a fun catch-and-release fish, doggedly pulling drag and fighting all the way in.

"There are large schools of reds all over the area - all around Fort DeSoto, Boca Ciega Bay and all throughout lower Tampa Bay," reports Captain Chad Calhoun.

Working mangrove edges and oyster bars, Calhoun has his best results using scented plastics, scaled sardines and chunks of ladyfish or any type of cut bait. The latter is "dead-sticked" on the bottom, not moved until a red comes along and picks it up. His preference is fishing the latter part of the incoming and the beginning of the outgoing tides.

Though most of these reds are too big to keep, Calhoun assured us there are always some slot-sized fish to take home. Most of the reds he's catching average 25 to 30 inches.

Captain Brent Gaskill has been working the beaches and nearshore artificial reefs, catching kingfish, Spanish mackerel, sharks, barracuda and amberjack.

"Scaling tackle down to 10-pound test spinning rods has kept it fun and challenging," Gaskill said.

However, on a deeper wreck he stepped it up to 20-pound spinning gear, which is still considered light for those particular species.

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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