New Port Richey, Tarpon Springs, Clearwater Florida fishing guide Capt. Rich Knox of Absolute Florida Flats Fishing Guide Service on the West Central Florida Gulf Coast reports very action on most inshore shallow water fishing flats. The pilchard spawn bait and some of the main adult stock are returning inshore now making it fairly easy to cast net up to 500 fresh baits every morning. The redfish are on all the oyster bars, mangrove shorelines, shell points, and kind of depression on the middle of the flat at the beginning of incoming tide. Spotted Sea Trout in the 20″ and up size are showing up in and around all the estuary systems and on all the grassy pothole ladden flats, right on the ege of the grass and sand at the beginning of incoming tide, feeling the days getting shorter and the water temperatures beginning to decline the feedbag is on for all inshore species ! Snook have started there migration from the barrier island beach’s to there winter homes way up in the rivers and any hole or nearby any spring that holds warm water temperatures, they can still be found on the inside of the islands to any structure all the up into the rivers right now. At this time pilchards are the best bait followed by pinfish and lastly a select shrimp place in the right place. We use light tackle G-Loomis long casting rod’s with a Diawa long cat spinning reel spooled with 10-20 lb. braid a 4-5 foot piece of 20-40 lb. fluorocarbon leader depending on the structure your fishing, For artificial enthusiast depending on the depth of water your fishing a 1/4 to 3/8 oz. jig with paddle tail swim baits in a variety of colors, the plug of choice is a Mirro-Lure mirro-dine in a pilchard imitation, jerk-shad’s and spoons, worked medium fast as the fish are very active to attack !
