“If a man speaks at sea where no woman can hear, is he still wrong?” I’ll bet you can tell which sex answers yes to this question. The fall fishing is in its prime. I’ve been telling you over the last three weeks how the fishing has improved due to weather conditions and the water clarity. Now, I have no idea why, but all of a sudden it’s fishing heaven out there. Everyone is catching everything. Is there no end to this madness? The redfish are now very active anywhere there is structure. Docks, bridge supports, piers, and seawalls seem to be the hotspots for these great fighters. We’ve had several big redfish swimming back and forth along the seawall right next to the Bait House. Anglers have been catching them using live shrimp, pinfish, finger mullets, greenbacks, and even cut up baitfish. One man fishing next to the Dunedin lift bridge was hitting them using ladyfish cut into strips using a single surf rig. Pier anglers have been using live shrimp and greenbacks to lure some monster size redfish in. Hammerhead, shovelhead, black tip and even some nurse sharks have been caught all over Honeymoon Island down to Johns Pass. One of our customers caught two hammerheads between 3-1/2 and 4 feet right off the rocks by the Shells restaurant on the island. Dave Watson from Clearwater hit a nice nurse shark while fishing with his dad at the Redington Pier. Both the Gulf side and the Intracoastal waterway have been putting out some very nice size snook using live pinfish or greenbacks. The Spanish mackerels are still running. While many are bobber fishing from the piers using greenbacks set 4 feet down from the surface, other are hitting them with spoons from both the piers as well as the shore. One of the large charter fishing boats came in yesterday with 25 to 30 keeper groupers as well as large stringers of snappers. On another charter a customer walked away with what had to be at least a 6-foot king mackerel. Fishing hot spots seem to come and go all the time. Here is a couple that we’ve heard about this last week. Try the small piers on the side of Sand Key. Many anglers have been hitting some big snook and redfish there. The north side of Honeymoon Island has been a hot spot for shark fishing. Some large hammerheads and blacktips have been caught lately. Both Redington Pier and Pier 60 have seen large numbers of mackerels and redfish caught. Several anglers have claimed that they have been hitting nice size flounders shore fishing behind the library and rec center on Clearwater Beach. New News! We got our new VHF marine radio installed at the Bait House. Now you can call in to check on the availability of bait or just to check in to see where the fish are biting and on what. I do not have it set up completely yet, but we will monitor channel 16 for now so we can answer any of your questions. I will keep you all informed if this changes at all. We also started to stock many items that you the anglers have asked for lately. Don’t forget we have a dock access for your boat. Thanks to those that email me at Jim2988@msn.com and as always, Good Luck Out There! Jim can be found daily at the Bait House - Clearwater Municipal Marina, phone 446-8134
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