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Better Conditions Could Light The Bite

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By MEL BERMAN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 21, 2008

GO FISHING is a look at the area fishing scene through the eyes of local charter boat captains and fishing guides. Today: Mel Berman.

Following a week of shockingly cold weather and gusty breezes, it appears that we'll be treated to more seasonable conditions and lighter winds this weekend. That being the case, many will be out pursuing the larger winter sea trout, whose arrival has been triggered by the first series of fall cold fronts.

According to captain Woody Gore, those big trout have been showing up along the deeper edges of grass flats and on sandy, rocky edges. "Sometimes, if the sun is up, you'll find them moving around in shallower hard bottoms. They also like to move into sandy potholes that are surrounded by grass flats," he said.

Gore expects to see larger sea trout take over in all these venues following each successive cold front and warm-up cycle.
Captain Brian Caudill said that most snook have made their seasonal move up into creeks and docks, seeking the darker, warmer waters of back bay areas, where they can survive these cooler conditions.

"Anytime we go into the canals, we can count on finding good numbers of snook. They usually set up just before the outgoing tide at bait ambush points on the corners of seawalls," he said.

Redfish are settling in along the main land mass around the docks and in oyster bars. "This is an excellent situation where 'dead-sticking' a chunk of bait should yield some strikes as the reds forage for food along the bottom," Caudill said.

This is also a time of year when schools of frisky silver trout move into our deeper grasses. According to reports, they are now staging on the outside along Gulf beaches, but should move to the inside flats in a matter of days.

Hear "The Captain Mel Show"

Saturdays from 6-9 a.m. on 970 AM. Also, visit "Fishing Florida

OnLine Magazine" at capmel.com.

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