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Now Is The Time To Take To Water

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By MIKE ANDERSON Tribune correspondent

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 11, 2008

GO FISHING is a look at the area fishing scene through the eyes of local charter boat captains and fishing guides. Today: Mike Anderson, right, with "Reel Animals" partner Billy Nobles.

If you have been putting off fishing until the weather and the bite is right, now is the time.

We are enjoying some of the best fishing of the year. The snook, redfish and speckled trout bite was in full swing this week. Snook were everywhere from the docks in Apollo Beach to the backcountry of Cockroach Bay to just about every little nook of the Little Manatee River.

Our biggest fish of the week was only 34 inches, but we managed to catch quite a few of them. Greenbacks were the snook bait of choice, with most of our fish preferring them free-lined. Redfish have taken up residence in the Fort DeSoto area with almost every little island holding at least a couple of fish if not a whole school. We found the same to be true in Cockroach Bay as the reds have taken to the mangrove islands there as well.

We found our best bet on high water was floating greenbacks under a cork as close to the tree line as possible. When the tide gets up, they are looking for the safety and shade of those trees. It also creates a great ambush point for feeding.
Captain Billy Nobles enjoyed a great week of speckled trout fishing. He was working some deep-water oyster bars with free-lined greenbacks and had several days in which he caught his limit.

We also had good luck on trout around Fort DeSoto using DOA Shrimp under a popping cork and also with the Berkley Gulp 5-inch Jerk Shad in Nuclear Chicken. Work the 3- to 4-foot range for the bigger fish. We caught several that were more than 20 inches.

Catch captains Billy Nobles and Mike Anderson on the "Reel Animals Fishing Show" on Saturdays from 6:30-7 a.m. and Sundays from 11-11:30 a.m. on WFLA, Channel 8, and on Sundays from 8-10 a.m. on WWBA, 1040 AM. To book a charter, call 1-866-GAMEFISH or vis

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