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Captain's Corner: Inshore tips

 
Published June 9, 2015

Most inshore anglers' targets are ripe for the picking. Snook are spread out from upper Tampa Bay down to the passes that lead to the gulf. A livewell full of whitebait and sardines will get the action going. Use half the baits to live chum the snook school. Once they start popping the surface, cast free-lined baits into the surface action. The redfish schools are roaming the flats in large numbers. Most schools have 100 to 200 fish, but some have 500 or more. The reds are still feeding on live chum during the peak high tide. During lower tides, use cut baits. Try cut pinfish, threadfins, mullet, and ladyfish. Trout, mackerel and sharks are hanging over deeper grass flats. Use a frozen chum block and live whitebait. Check the range markers and channel markers for cobia. Drift each marker with a corked live pinfish. If you don't get a strike, move to the next marker. Start at sunup and work the markers. Fish the snook when the tide is moving strong.

Doug Hemmer charters out of St. Petersburg and can be reached at (727) 347-1389.