Aripeka to Longboat Key
Includes Hudson, New Port Richey, Anclote Key, Tarpon Springs, Dunedin, Clearwater, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Anna Maria Island and Bradenton.

Oct. 17-20

West Central

This is the time to get out and go fishing! If there is one time in the year to go, it’s now. Availability of bait is easy and plentiful, and predators are hungry. It’s the change of seasons and fish are preparing to give their jaws a hard workout!

OFFSHORE

So many fish…so little time. With Spanish mackerel all over the place and more and more kings showing up every day, it’s time for us to turn toward the mack attack! Loads of Spanish are off the beaches in reaction to the hoards of baitfish pods that have been gathering because of the winds having an easterly component. Flat seas and clear, clean water have been the norm lately, putting mackerel to 6-pounds on the beaches within reach of just about everyone. Kingfish are getting more plentiful on the offshore wrecks and artificial reefs from Sarasota to Tarpon Springs.

Hernando anglers are catching kings as well. Capt. Rick Rodriguez out of Hernando Beach reported good action from grouper in the shallow water with grunts, mangrove snapper, and loads of Spanish and some king mackerel. While his charters may boat 100 red and gag grouper, there are still a lot of shorts, meaning that the major push of grouper toward the shallows is still yet to take place. With water temps being up a bit, he expects things to really turn on after the first good cold front passes, pushing fish in and southward.

INSHORE

Fishing has been nothing short of phenomenal. Excellent catches of Spanish mackerel in the bays and nearshore waters have just about everyone smiling. Live and artificial bait anglers are enjoying good catches of redfish and trout. Live shrimp has worked best because it just seems that there are too many fin fish available, but expect to get totally plundered by pinfish. They’re out of control on the flats, so plan on loading up on bait if you plan to spend any time out there. Tandem rigged jigs rule right now for anglers looking to put numbers of fish in the boat while trout fishing. With only two weeks remaining before the season closure in the South Region, anglers are trying for one or two more trips for trout before they either have to run north of Fred Howard Park for their trout fix or just lay off of them for the next couple of months.

Just coming off the full moon has made for some great tides, which have been conducive to good night fishing and fishing potholes at low tide for reds and trout. Snook fishing has been slower than normal due to the fact that the fish are so spread out on the flats. Topwater baits like the Rapala Skitterwalk, MirrOlure Top Dog, and soft plastic baits rigged with a DOA Chug Head are producing trout to 5-pounds from Cockroach Bay south to Terra Ceia. Anglers fishing off Pinellas Point on the Clam Bar reported excellent catches of trout over grass in 3-to 5-feet of water.

Cobia have been prowling on the flats lately. Take a heavy rod rigged with 20-pound test in the event you run across one of these larger fish. Cobia to 50-pounds have been caught this week.

FRESHWATER

As we approach cooler weather, look for speckled perch to begin showing in greater numbers as the begin schooling. Light jigs like the Hal Fly are great for these small pan fish.

Are you ready to catch The Big One??? Florida Sportsman Magazine Radio Live! now broadcasts with a booming 50,000 watt signal on 820 AM radio every Saturday from 8 to 9 a.m. Captains Ray Markham and Gary Folden will take live, on-water reports from some of West Central Florida’s top guides and anglers, and with the new frequency, the reach of West Central reports may be expanding, so tune in each Saturday to find out what’s hot and what’s not. To be part of the show with your report, call toll-free 1-877-355-1040. ‘Til then…catch ya later!

Capt Ray Markham (941) 723-2655 home (941) 228-3474 cell E-mail: flatback@tampabay.rr.com

By Capt. Ray Markham |  flatback@tampabay.rr.com
| 941-723-2655

* 4cast updated each Thursday by 6 p.m. Click the refresh button if the report date isn't current.