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Specks Are Still Hanging On

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 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: Mark Cook.
Friend Julie Chesser last week told me she was surprised speckled perch still were being caught on Kissimmee. Though not the numbers caught in the wintertime, specks can be caught year-round, although you have to work harder to find them.

Specks don't only eat in the cooler months, but they do tend to move shallow and definitely school up in large numbers. Warmer waters tend to scatter the fish, but tactics used in cooler months will catch fish.

The same lily pads where the fish spawn also hold major food sources for specks like grass shrimp and minnows. During early morning or late into the evening, specks will work their way to the shallows to feed. However, most warm-water specks will be caught drifting the deepest parts of the lakes with minnows and jigs.

The south end of Grassy Island has been an excellent spot for late-season speckled perch on Kissimmee, and bluegill and shellcracker are all over the lake, with Brahma Island and the river on the south end providing the best catches.

I fished with the Robinson family of Lakeland on Friday on Anna Maria Island on two trips and both yielded good catches.

Early in the day we caught a decent redfish bite around the oyster bars near Price's Key. Berkley Gulps did the trick on the redfish and also brought in some nice speckled trout.

The evening bite was a little tougher although trout, flounder and a 30-inch redfish were caught.

For more information,

contact Mark Cook

at tribfishing@aol.com.

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