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Bluegill Are Hitting Their Peak

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 19, 2008

Updated: 05/19/2008 12:08 am

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.

With this week's full moon, bluegill and shellcracker both have mounted their strongest charge to their spawning beds this year and anglers from Lake Tarpon to Kissimmee are easily taking their limits. While May is going strong, most feel June's full moon will be even better.

Medard Reservoir's boat launch has been extremely busy during the last few days and the local bait stores are selling crickets and wigglers by the thousands. Good numbers and good size were reported during the weekend with most fish being caught in 3 to 7 feet of water. At Medard or any phosphate pit, small cuts and coves can be a bonanza when targeting panfish on the beds. I've been in small coves no larger than 100 square feet and limited out of a mixed bag of bluegill and shellcracker.

Kissimmee is near low water stage and that is creating a little trouble for some, but the panfish are still biting when fed. Brahma Island as usual is one of the top destinations, but south near the river has also been productive.

Friday morning I trout fished with Bruce and Scott Jacobs of Pinecrest out of Cockroach and we found several keeper trout up to 24 inches working the grass and potholes south of the ramp. Live shrimp were effective when the pinfish didn't get them first, as were Berkley Gulp shrimp and the new Berkley Gobys fished on jigheads.

Near Fort DeSoto and around the Gandy, trout catches have been good on any moving tide according to sisters Jessica and Candace Reed of St. Petersburg. They also reported small grouper on the many artificial reefs around the Bay.

For more information, contact Mark Cook at tribfishing@aol.com.

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