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 | Clearwater Area - Inshore And Flats
06/13/09 3:00 PM
Capt Gary Burch | On the morning of May 30th, I fished with Ron and his son Hayden, aboard the Salt Aire. As we headed for our first location, I observed the water temperature had finally reached 83, a normal range for this time of year. I also noticed we would be fishing the bottom half of the outgoing tide. We entered a flat area in Clearwater that was productive five days earlier. Schools of Redfish have been feeding and working this flat on high tides. We set up at several different spots along this flat and saw absolutely nothing. I suspect that the falling tide was too low and the wind direction was blowing into this area, dirtying the water leaving us an empty flat. We moved on across the bay looking for cleaner water and a little deeper location. After staking out a grassy area in about three to four feet of water, we threw out some live chummers to get the action going. Ron broke the ice with his first 15" Trout. Then a nice 20 inch fish was landed, next was his biggest fish of the day, a huge trophy gator Trout that measured 26 1/4 inches. Nice catch Ron. Later we caught a few more smaller Trout and left the area. That's a very large Trout for the West Coast area. In the winter gator Trout move into our bays and there is a good chance of catching a 24 plus inch fish.
On June 6th, I fished with three guys from north Tampa, Dean, Mike and Tom. We had a great incoming tide to work with all morning and over cast skies to keep the heat down. The Salt Aire started fishing at Clearwater Pass where lots of Snook are hanging out for their spring and summer spawn. The water was a little dirty from recent rains and stiff west winds. We fished several spots around the pass and didn't find any takers. The next area was a grassy flat located inside the pass where the water was cleaner and not as much wind. Tom's first fish of the day was a 16 inch Trout caught on live white bait. Then Dean and Mike joined the action with their two 32 and 33 inch Snook. Dean took top honors when he caught a 34 inch Snook. This fish gave him several nice 50 yard runs and a couple out of the water head shakes. Nice catch Dean. We moved south in the bay to a large Redfish flat. After several stops, we only found one 24 inch Redfish. I relocated across the bay and found pleasantly clean water and hopefully some hungry fish. Tom started the action by catching his first ever Redfish that was 25 inches. Then Mike followed with another Redfish and Dean located a 16 inch Trout. Also they caught several good size Lady fish that put on an aerial show. We ended the day drifting across a shallow grass flat throwing Gulp and Cal jigs, looking for Redfish. Nothing was going on so we headed in. Finding cleaner water was our ticket for today. As the water gets dirty the bait fish move off and so do the predators.
On June 8th, I was joined today with Dan and Tony for an afternoon trip. The tide was high by the time we reached our first spot around 1:00pm. Water temperature was a warm 85 but nice and clean. I tossed out several live baits (Sardines) and was hoping the local inhabitants were still hanging in the area. Redfish, Snook and Trout all feed in this area when the water is moving. But no takers today. We didn’t waste any more time there and moved to a grassy flat just a few miles north. It didn’t take long here for a 26 inch Redfish to hit Dan’s line. Then Tony followed with a nice 25 inch Snook. One other Snook was caught farther down the flat. We left before the tide went out.
I relocated to an area that had some moving water, 3 to 4 feet deep and was clear. I set up the lines and threw out some livies as chum. Dan and Tony quickly caught three Trout and one was 21 inches. As we drifted down the flat with the current, Dan’s line took off scream'in. Fifteen minutes later a nice 31” Snook was landed on the deck of the Salt Aire. Twenty minutes later the action slowed and we moved. I staked out along side some docks that usually hold Redfish later in the afternoon. As the water warms up in the afternoon, the fish hang out in the shadows of the dock where it is cooler. Sure enough, there were some Redfish. Dan threw the bait into the shadows and caught two Redfish. Don't you love it when fish are where they should be. Time ran out and we headed in.
Capt. Gary Burch
AllCatchCharters.com
captgary@saltaireinc.com
727 458-6335 |
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