CAPT. BILL MILLER
“OUTDOORS PROFESSIONAL”
Marketing/Sales Specialist • Grand Master Angler • TV Host/Writer

 

BILL’S FISHING REPORTS
Current Advice for Catching More Fish

Offshore action hot before cold front

Posted October 25, 2006
By BILL MILLER
Before this last cold front, offshore fishing was good. Captain Angelo LoGrande made two stops and limited on mangos, scamp, grouper and red snapper. One of the grouper was a true black grouper, not commonly caught in this area. West of Pass-a-Grille in 80 feet and 120 feet was the hot area. At the 80-foot stop, LoGrande’s party caught two kingfish fly-lining a live white bait while bottom fishing. The kings weighed in at 37 and 39 pounds.
Acres of big Spanish mackerel are 12 to 18 miles west of Pass-a-Grille. Trolling No. 1 spoons behind a No. 1 planer will quickly catch your limit. Slow-troll a live mackerel with a double stinger rig around the edges of the mackerel schools and be ready for a visit from a smoker king.
Mastry’s Bait and Tackle reports big kingfish are patrolling the Gulf beaches following the bait and mackerel schools. Two fish in the 40-pound class and numerous 20-pounders were caught this weekend.
Flats fishing around the Gandy and Frankland bridges is spotty. Captain Chuck Rodgers says there are snook at all the likely spots, just not a lot of them. Redfish is the best bet for numbers. Redfish use their sense of smell to find food, so try using fresh-cut pinfish, ladyfish, white bait or mullet on the bottom to attract them. Look for the dropping water temps to start bunching up the trout in the deeper holes.
Captain Bill Miller hosts “Hooked on Fishing” on Thursdays and Sundays from 7-8 p.m., and Fridays and Mondays from 11 a.m.-noon on Bright House Networks Catch 47.

Reprinted with permission of The Tampa Tribune

Reports Archive
3/2/06
3/9/06
6/29/06
7/05/06
7/13/06
7/20/06
8/02/06
8/09/06
8/16/06
8/31/06
9/0606
9/14/06
9/21/06
9/28/06
10/04/06
10/19/06