Fishing Report – February 20, 2022

Here is the latest fishing report for Clearwater fishing charters. My reports are published in the Tampa Bay Times every 4th and 20th of the month! Thank you for reading, and I look forward to getting you all out on the water soon! Capt. Brian.

Fishing this time of year requires a lot of patience and the ability to change gears. Lately, we’ve been fishing for sheepshead using live shrimp, cut into small pieces and threaded onto a small hook. Pitching underneath docks and around oyster bars is very productive, but at times there will be redfish in the vicinity. So, I will often float pinfish under a cork along the same oyster bars as the sheepshead. Not always, but occasionally, we’ll hook a nice redfish or two. Trout are beginning to show up a little better in St. Joseph Sound, however, the grass flats south towards Clearwater have held a lot of small trout. We’ve been using artificials that mimic shrimp profiles bounced slowly along the grassy bottom to get a few hook ups. Pompano and ladyfish are also common catches. There have been a lot of sharks on the flats in recent weeks. So I’ve been taking clients to catch ladyfish that we will eventually use for the sharks. A little heavier class rods with some 60lb. wire leader and a 5/0 or 6/0 circle hook works great for the smaller sharks in the 2 to 5 foot range. Be very careful when dislodging the hook from the small sharks mouth as their teeth are razor-sharp and their movements can be unpredictable. I like to use fishing gloves and a dehooking tool for safety.

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