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Inshore fishing is on fire

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 12, 2009

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

Inshore fishing in St. Joseph Sound and Clearwater Bay has been very good, despite the winds and rain.

Captain Craig Lahr took the "Hooked on Fishing" film crew out last week and put us on some good trout and redfish action. The trout were on the deeper grass edges near channels. White bait under a cork worked best. Most mangrove islands had redfish on them.

We anchored on the point of the islands and threw out some chum to find the reds. Once we found them (or they found us), it was game on.

Captain David Graham reports good action on trout, jack crevalle and ladyfish on the grass flats behind Anclote Key. Staying out of the west wind is key, Graham says, because that is where the clean water will be.

On my afternoon tarpon charters at the Sunshine Skyway last week, we had to fish around and in the rain. The outgoing tide produced a very small crab flow, but the tarpon did not mind and they bit anyway. Egmont Key and Southwest Pass also had good action in the afternoon.

Mackerel and mangrove snapper have been the catch of the day for captain Billy Miller.

Miller says most of the bay artificial reefs are starting to fill with mangos.

Anchoring over the reef and chumming with cut greenbacks and a frozen chum block will bring the mangos and mackerel to your boat. Free-line small pieces of greenback to the mangos and whole, nose-hooked greenbacks to the macks.

Captain Bill Miller hosts "Hooked on Fishing" on Bright House Sports Network, Channel 47. To book a charter with captain Bill or his son captain Billy, call (813) 363-9926.

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