December 13, 2002

Lakeland Ledger

Fishing Around Tampa Bay

1 At Big Pier 60 in Clearwater, fishing has been off since heavy rain and wind hit on Monday. Water is too dirty. Raining again Thursday.

2 At Madeira Beach, offshore fishing has been very limited because of cold fronts the past two weeks. Wait until conditions improve.

3 At John's Pass, Capt. Chuck MacIntyre of Treasure Island (727-709-9045) has been working inshore, with redfish, sheepshead and catch-and-release trout in Boca Ciego Bay.

4 At Fort DeSoto Park, it's been a tough week at both piers because of the weather. Not many people giving it a try.

5 Around the Sunshine Skyway and lower Tampa Bay, few trucks and trailers at the boat ramps this week, with heavy rain Monday and again Thursday and today. Snook are in the creeks and canals, and will be out of season starting Sunday.

6 At Anna Maria, sheepshead are about the only reward for the few anglers willing to brave the poor weather at the city pier this week.

7 At St. Petersburg, fishing has been on hold both offshore and even on the flats this week. Time to check residential canals or the power plant outflows, where cobia and jacks can stack up this time of year.

8 In the north end of Tampa Bay, good time of year for sheepshead along the pilings at the Howard Frankland and Courtney Campbell Causeway, but weather has kept fishermen off the water this week.