There. I said it. Skunked. Wow, it’s been a while, but the combination of unfavorable tides, poor moon phase, thinning bait, and the incredible water temperature drop all conspired to shock the fish into inactivity. Despite a packed dock, nobody else was catching anything, either. Small consolation.

There was, however, one bright spot- a 39″ redfish caught by a lucky angler on Thanksgiving day.

Who’d of thought there would still be tarpon rolling in Boca Ciega Bay in November? But, they’re there. Saw three seperate pods on Sunday, unmistakebly tarpon. The dockhand had seen some the week before, too. Time to get out the heavy tackle?

As far as Pass-A-Grille Merry Pier fishing, it was business as usual. Showed up for 5 hours Saturday, and 7 on Sunday. Pretty good crowd, too. Saturday, on the incoming tide, 10 to 16 inch grouper were a given on pretty much every cast, but no sign of the big boys. Snapper are gone, as are the snook. The season change is evident, doubly so when I pulled in a decent pair of flounder. Looking forward to the days when they come in thick!

Sunday, it was Spanish Mackeral in the morning. Every cast of the silver 1/2 ounce Kastmaster resulted in a quick hit, with some 3-4 pound fish in the mix. Eventually, got tired of catching them, and it was on to grouper and sheepshead. No flounder, but a guy pulled up a very nice redfish. I had couple of big hits (and subsequent break-offs) under the pier, and I suspect that’s what they were.

Off to Arizona Wednesday, so no fishing for a while. I’ll be hitting it hard come Thanksgiving weekend, though- reports to follow.

Fall is in the air, and the samll grouper are swarming in Pass-A-Grille. Joined by friends Tim and Craig, we caught ’em by the dozen last weekend, despite a brutal 25 knot north wind. Manatees and dolphins cruised past the Pier. And, variety is on the increase- the day’s catch included gag grouper, mangrove snapper, redfish, ladyfish, pinfish, lizardfish, pufferfish, and… sheepshead.

Yes, the sheepshead are hungry. Live shrimp was the ticket for a couple of hubcap sized beauties. Should be a good fall.

Side note- sounds like my buddy Alan will be cruising in from the backwoods of Kentucky in early December. This calls for some offshore time! And maybe another Captain Mike Homer charter?