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Trout in deeper grass flats of Hudson

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 1, 2009

Sully's Marine and Beach Store, 727-697-3923: Anglers have been staying off the water a lot because of the heat and frequent showers. For those who want to brave on, the trout are on the deeper grass flats off Hudson, staying near bottom and the cooler water there. Jigs and shrimp will get their attention. Offshore, don't even think about trying for grouper shallower than 35 to 40 feet of water. The fish are deeper now, also because the warm water. On a sad note, longtime Sully's charter captain Tommy Post recently passed away. Services for Capt. Tommy were held Sunday. A gentleman and fine angler, he will be missed by many.

Salonika's Bait and Tackle, 727-849-6377: Anglers have been fishing around Green Key Beach and doing well on redfish. The bars and mangroves in the area are producing fish 24 to 26 inches, with live shrimp on the bottom getting it done. A few trout are being caught just west of the stilt houses north of the Cotee River. Fish are over the grass bottom around deeper potholes. Fish 17 to 24 inches have been reported, with the best bite being around first light, continuing for a couple of hours. Topwater plugs have been working well, and several limits, including the single allowed oversized fish, were reported.

Dunedin Bait and Tackle, 727-736-3474: A regular at the shop who was fishing off the sea wall near the Dunedin Marina landed a 27-inch red, along with a couple of oversized fish. He was using select shrimp. The jetty at the southeastern corner of Hurricane Pass has been giving up some snook. Fish 25 to 36 inches have been taken early in the morning. Live select shrimp and pinfish have been top baits, and if you don't have them in the water before 7 a.m., your chances of hooking up go down. Fish are catch-and-release only now, as the snook season is closed for the summer spawn.

Pier 60, 727-462-6466: Fish are around in fair numbers, running 11 to 15 inches, with a few to about 18 inches reported. Gotcha Plugs, Clark's silver spoons and cut greenbacks have been good baits. Free-line or fish under floats with the natural bait. A few sheepshead 12 to 14 inches are being caught. Fish are taking fiddler crabs and shrimp well. Fish them near the pilings. Some snapper to 13 inches have been caught, as well, with the same baits and cut squid doing the job. The snapper bite has been stronger after dark.

Dubai Long Pier, 727-391-9398: The trout bite has been on, with most of the action after dark. Fish are running 17 to 20 inches and taking live shrimp and sardines under floats or free-lined. A few reds are being caught, with slot and oversized fish reported. Snook have been around the pier, taking live shrimp at times, but turning up their noses more often than not.

Nick Stubbs is founder and webmaster of Bitetracker.com.

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