Any Info on Sea and Wind Conditions Off of Clearwater/ St Pete??

[work2fish]

Lookin' to head out for some fishing Sunday morning with a couple friends in a Scout 185SF. We'll be putting in at Ft DeSoto and hope to get out to a few of the reefs anywhere from 5 to 25 miles out.

Has anyone been out today?? If so, how were the seas and winds??

If things are too ugly, we'll just get bait in the Pass-A-Grille area and stay there close to the beaches or head into Tampa Bay and fish the bridges.

[seabass]

Hey work2fish, looks like it's gonna be ugly. The wind is blowing outside my house pretty good right now. I put a couple links below for you to check out. These are the ones I use before heading out. Hope it helps and good luck tomorrow!

seabass

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/data/Foreca...US52.KTBW.html

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_pag...?station=42036

[work2fish]

Thanks for the info seabass. I'm hardcore about getting out on the water, and this hurricane is not making things easy.

Hey - we need to get together on the water one day soon. I usually put in at Ft DeSoto, but would welcome getting to know new waters.

I know your schedule varies, but I have the weekends off and the wife expects me home for one of those days. We've got an 8 week old, 15 month old, and a 9 yr old at home so I thank my lucky stars that she lets me out at all.

My email is on my profile and I would really enjoy fishing with you, with a side trip to Sheperd's for lunch or something. Let me know.

BTW, I spend most every Saturday on the water and scan 68 and 16 all the time - give me a shout on 16 next time you're out there - my boat name is Sea6 Sea7 (after the vertebrae I had to have fused before I bought the boat).

[Jeremy]

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/Maps/Florida.shtml

http://weathercenter.com/radar/animatedradar.htm

http://www.weatherfast.com/tpabay.html

Don't be stupid about the weather. Old Mother nature can spin up and kick your ass in a hurry. Scout is a good boat but not designed for offshore in big swells.

Take care and file a float plan.

Jeremy

[Ed P]

I would stay inside (inshore), if I were you. I was downtown St. Pete last night, and the wind was howling -- very choppy in the bay (today too, I'm sure). Will probably be yucky even up in the open bay today (not just outside).

Good luck,

Ed P., St. Pete., FL

[Jeremy]

Hey I was out on the bay twice today - and it wasn't too bad at all.

Went out with my son in the morning and saw a huge freighter turn around at the port of Tampa.

And went out fishing later and caught a 39" Redfish!

Jeremy

[Ed P]

Wow Jeremy! That's awesome! I thought all the redfish had left the bay years ago! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img] Where were you (approx)?

It wasn't as bad today as last night indicated it "should" be, that's for sure. Now we'll have to wait and see what Isadore and TD13 have in store...

Ed P., St. Pete., FL

[work2fish]

To All -

Thanks for your input on Sunday's weather. I appreciate the advice. Like most of you, I let the weather and seas dictate where I fish/cruise. And like most of you, I consider the safety of my passengers to be the most important factor in my Go/No Go decisions.

We put in at Ft DeSoto at 7:15 am - the place looked like a ghost town. Headed out Bunces Pass and went for some bait at Pass-A-Grille and anchored off the Don Cesar Hotel for an hour and a half or so. Killed some bait but no fish. One of the crew got seasick so we went in to the bay via Pass-A-Grille.

Cruised over to Shell Island and had lunch around 11:00. Went to some of the flats around Ft DeSoto and a great rest of the day fishing!!

One of the crew hooked a Tarpon on a pinfish rigged two feet under a float. Her reel was loaded with 17 lb Trilene XT with a 30 lb fluoro leader with a 4/0 circle hook. The fight was on and we had to chase the fish when it started looking like we were gonna get spooled. Twenty minutes and several spectacular jumps later, the fish was boatside. What a fish!

We closed the day with several gags (shorts), 8 trout, 2 slot-sized, and a pelican who thought he wanted my white/red Top Dog more thatn I did. Emergency surgery freed the bird and he'll have a sore foot and tail for a while.

Never thought the flats could be so much fun! Think I'll save some gas and fish the flats more often.

[Ed P]

work2,

Sounds like a fun day! Way more fun that I had this weekend (packing for a move). We'll have to link-up out there sometime!

I've got a couple/few months worth of work to do at my new house, so it'll be dock fishing for me for a while [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

Ed P., St. Pete., FL

[work2fish]

Ed -

I'm always happy to get together with fellow boaters/fishing enthusiasts. Especially those with Scouts [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

Let me know when the house is in order, or when you've had enough and need some fishing time.

My email is in my profile.

[Jeremy]

Ed, I was close to the marker about two miles due east of the pier. Caught one bait fish (a bumper too) was out for just an hour and caught the monster red in about 35 feet of water. Took me about 20 minutes to land her - every time she saw the boat she took off. and she was pissed when I got her on board (almost didn't fit in my net!) she was grunting up a storm...

Good luck with your move... It sucks.

Jeremy

[Ed P]

Wow... a big red in 35 ft. of water... I never woulda thunk it. Of course, you didn't have your camera with you, right?! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

...hmm... marker 2 miles east of the pier... {not marking my chart or anything... heh heh...}

[img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

Ed P., St. Pete., FL

[Jeremy]

No camera - but no need to lie either... This time of year I have caught quite a few over slot size reds in deeper water... especially where you have a little structure. Three weeks ago I caught what must have been a 50# Cobia. I saw him take my bait fish - unfortunately he broke off before Netting him - not sure I could have anyway. Same general area - I brought home a very tasty black tip we had that night...

Jeremy