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Winter trout on the way

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By BILL MILLER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 25, 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.

The winter trout migration is starting in Clearwater Bay and St. Josephs Sound based on our "Hooked on Fishing" trip last week with captain Brian Caudill.

Caudill met the crew after catching plenty of white bait along the Honeymoon Island beach and we headed to the flats of Clearwater Bay. The tide was low, so we focused on channel edges and pot holes.

After a few dry holes, we found a bunch of trout that were lying just off the flats along a deep grass edge. A nose-hooked white bait consistently produced trout, ladyfish and blue fish.

When the tide slowed, the action slowed, so we motored outside of the no-motor zone signs and found some redfish lying along the drop off edge.

Our last stop was St. Joseph Sound and the north side of an ICW spoil island, where we caught some very big trout on white bait and a cork.

Bait schools are all along the Gulf beaches and predatory fish are filling their bellies with glass minnows and small Spanish sardines. Spanish mackerel, kingfish, ladyfish, jacks and sharks are attacking these bait schools in feeding frenzies that can be seen from a long distance.

Captain Craig Lahr has been putting his clients onto some great fly and light tackle action around the feeding frenzies. Some of the bait schools were being attacked by tarpon and Lahr has been jumping lots of tarpon by throwing 52M and 72M Mirrolures into the action.

Captain T.J. Stewart says the action in Anna Maria Sound has been very good on snook, trout and redfish. Trout are all over the grass flats and big schools of hungry reds have been tearing up baits in Palma Sola Bay. Look for snook along channel edges on low tide and up under the mangroves on high tide.

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) 363-9927.

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