Fish in the Terra Ceia area exploded into a feeding frenzy over the course of the past week.  Shorter days, lower temperatures, and the fall migration of fish into the backcountry have made for some excellent, productive trips.  Every trip has resulted in Grand Slams, which included some of the largest trout in the past six months.  Topwater baits, jigs, jerk baits, spoons, flies…you name it.  The fish ate it.

     Early in the week, a little fishing in my back yard Sunday night and a pre-dawn excursion on Monday with MirrOlure He Dogs resulted in two Grand Slams in less than an hour both times, with trout to 24-inches, snook to 26-inches, and redfish to 23-inches slamming the topwater dog walker. 

     Tuesday, my friend Mark Nichols, of DOA Lure fame, came over from Stuart, Florida to join me for a day on the water.  We managed Grand Slams for the third time of the week.  We had dozens of trout to 5-pounds, snook to 25-inches, and redfish to 24-inches using a proto-type DOA lure, the DOA CAL Jigs and the Deadly Combination.  After our trip, Mark attended our meeting of the Old Salt Fishing Club, where members had a sea wall tournament fished with artificial baits.  Mark promptly showed us how it was done, winning the tournament with a snook and a ladyfish in the hour-long game.  Another snook about 12-pounds broke off his DOA Shrimp.

     Thursday, Jim Mathers and Sally Richards, of Richmond, Virginia, spent the better part of the day spin and fly-fishing around Terra Ceia and lower Tampa Bays.  Jim fly fished most of the time, using a Deceiver much of the time, and caught several trout nice.  Spin fishing was more productive, and Sally and Jim caught 7 or 8 snook to 25-inches, a redfish, and dozens of trout, with 7 keeper trout up to 21-inches using CAL Shad Tail Jigs, DOA Shrimp, and Producto Jigs.  I had very good success with the new MirrOlure 20MR, “CATCH 5” suspending bait.  Trout just wouldn’t leave this bait alone.  Once again, it looks like MirrOlure has another winner on their hands.

     On Friday, I hit the road again for the Florida Sportsman Fishing show, this time in Orlando.  Many new lures made their debut at the show.  I was able to pick up a few and am looking forward to trying them for the first time this coming week. 

     Even with the quarter moon coming up, we have some great falling tides in the first half of the week.  Water temperatures have fallen to around the 76-degree mark, and fish are on the feed!  Look for some excellent action.  ‘Til then…catch ya later!

Capt. Ray Markham

(941) 723-2655

E-mail: flatback@tampabay.rr.com