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Fishtales
 Many anglers from this area head for Boca Grande this time of year to fish for tarpon. Some have homes there and have been going there for many years. But for those who don’t have a home there, why not just fish in your own waterways around Tampa Bay. Tarpon are soaring in the air most any night you travel our bay waters.
What a sight to see as they soar into the air beside your boat, gracefully performing a ballet across the water. Some go out just to see the show, while others go to make a catch. Recently, I wrote about the new rules of keeping the fish in the water before the release, so, remember, no-kill and release.
The winds from the west this week kept some anglers bayside, but those going out say that they did a lot of casting practice because the bites could not have been slower. In an all-day run they came in with one keeper trout, and with the cost of gasoline, it was an expensive catch.
Those fishing around the Skyway Bridge this week are reporting a great variety of catches, with one angler landing a giant cobia weighing around 75-80 pounds.
I asked a few anglers if they used 6-pound test line or heavier one and the majority said that in our bay waters you never know what is out there. A 6-lb. test line would be good for seatrout, but if you hooked a 25-pound grouper, cobia or a big red, you will probably lose your catch.
Seatrout is a great table fare, cooked many ways -- fried, broiled or baked -- but it is a fragile fish and needs to be put on ice as soon as you put it in the bait well. Some gut and dress it at sea and then ice down.
The seatrout has a very soft mouth and will often take your bait and swim away before you set the hook. If you do hook him, often he slips away while you are reeling him to the boat. It takes practice to keep a seatrout hooked and boated. Best you have a buddy with a scoop net waiting along the side of the boat as you reel in your catch. Legal limit is four fish between 15 and 20 inches, with one fish more than 20 inches permitted.
Redfish are everywhere and reports of record size redfish are coming in from all waterways. I still have those Simmons Park anglers that insist that the best redfish catches are made in the park canals and they will not fish any other place. They wait outside the gate each morning with their bikes for the Park Rangers to open up, so that they can spend the day fishing. If you are retired, what a great way to spend the day, saving gasoline, eating a picnic lunch, and getting a day of exercise.
Pier fishing has been good this week with sheepshead being the number one reported catch. This fish is just the opposite of the seatrout. It has a bony mouth which makes it difficult for an angler to set a hook. Some anglers spend the day feeding all their bait to sheepshead. This fish is white and black striped, looks ugly and is known to steal your bait, but there is a way to outsmart the sheepshead if you learn to feel the nudge, count to three and jerk your line, setting the hook. Once you learn how to outsmart this fish, you will come home with a fish that has lean, white meat and is great table fare. If you catch a large one, bake it and you also can stuff it with a dressing. They are good filleted, broiled, fried, or boiled; cook only until meat flakes.
Sailfish have been seen doing acrobatics and playing out in our bay waters around the 40-mile mark offshore. Those cruising out there reported a sight to be seen as they followed alongside their boat for a long time. Many think that to see this fish one must travel to the Keys and beyond, but why make the trip when they are playing in your own backyard.
Dolphin were also sighted out there playing with their babies and putting on a show.
If you are having trouble spotting fish, we suggest that you watch for bait fish, such as Spanish sardines or cigar minnows schooling. There seems to be plenty out there. Cast into this school and you should get a catch -- might be a grouper or a big Spanish mackerel.
Some are not using live bait, but instead all types of jigs, lures and artificial baits. Others are trawling and taking a chance of catching a fish without anchoring.
Cockroach Bay has proven to be a good fishing spot this week with gag grouper and redfish catches reported.
Boats are anchored in the bay waters off Williams Park and I found that this is a public waterway and it is legal to anchor there. I know that in Sarasota County near Jack’s Marina and many other harbors, your stay is limited to so many days and the water is patroled to make sure you only stay your limit.
With the weekend coming, be extra careful, be safe, obey all rules, take a buddy with you, wear your life jackets, and don’t drink and drive.
-- Aleta Jonie Maschek is a member of Florida Outdoor Press.
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