This north-south channel was dredged several years ago, with the rubble piled up on either side.  Over the years, those rubble piles have evolved into a series of quite productive mangrove spoil islands. All are surrounded by vast areas of lush grass flats, filled with a variety of gamefish. 

Just a short distance to the west -- beyond the ICW -- are the great barrier islands of Sand Key, Clearwater Beach, Caladesi and Honeymoon Islands, offering additional fish habitat for the angler to pursue.

To the south is Clearwater pass, and from there, the Intracoastal snakes its way through more populated regions. Yet, these waters can also produce some impressive catches. “Though it’s been built up over the years, there are still some good locations to fish.  For example, there’s a flat in front of a golf course just south of Clearwater pass that has a nice drop-off that has produced for me” advised local expert Tom Merryweather. “But your best shot would be to work the many residential canals and creeks, the docks, oyster and sand bars.” In addition, there are still some productive grasses to drift within the broad expanse of the waterway.

Growing up in coastal Clearwater, Merryweather’s passion was not only fishing, but discovering new, potentially productive locations along the Intracoastal Waterway. He’s been working this venue since he was a young lad of 10, and there is nary a nook or cranny that he’s left unexplored. Today, at age 60, Merryweather knows the where, when and how to work this angling venue.  “It may not be quite as productive as it used to be, what with the growing population, the housing, condos and development -- but it’s still pretty darn good and certainly, my favorite place to fish,” he said.

In the middle of all the action is the convenient Seminole Boat Ramp, just north of the new Clearwater Beach Bridge. It is the best launch site along this stretch of the Intracoastal. Owned and operated by the City of Clearwater, Seminole Ramp is well maintained, offering convenient water access even on the lowest of tides.  Anglers can launch their vessels and take a heading in either direction, but most choose to make that right turn to work the somewhat more pristine northern locations.

All along the mainland by the ICW are an intriguing series of docks and seawalls which hold good numbers of a variety of impressive gamefish. Out from docks, toward the Intracoastal, are rich grasses that are ideal for drift fishing.  Though holding mostly seatrout, it’s not uncommon to have a snook or redfish venture into these flats.

Right along the ICW itself, the waters are deepest to accommodate the constant flow of boat traffic. There, one can catch everything from Spanish mackerel, bluefish, speckled and silver trout, to blues and numerous other traveling fish schools. Though there are always noisy vessels going by, the fish are apparently acclimated to them and quickly settle down once the sounds of motors and boat wakes subside.

On the western perimeter is a continuation of the rich grass flats, along with the aforementioned series of quite productive spoil islands.  On a recent trip with Tom Merryweather, we set up a drift just south of a spoil islands which featured a long sand bar protruding toward the southwest, which was surrounded by a nice tough.  As we arrived, there were massive pods of baitfish and numerous jumping mullet schools bursting through the water’s surface.  “This is just what we’re looking for. And the tide is perfect,” said Merryweather. Using small chartreuse shad tail jigs on light 1/8^th ounce heads, we proceeded to work the lures with short, sharp twitches. After a few casts, I hooked a burly redfish. It took all I had to get that tenacious 32-incher boatside for a quick picture and release.

This time of year, it is not unusual for Merryweather to catch as many as 20 of those big reds in that particular area, as well as at many of the other nearby spoil islands. He also likes working No-Motor Zones and mangrove shorelines of the nearby barrier islands. In all of these venues, spoons, plugs and, of course live baits all work to catch an impressive array of inshore favorites. However, 90-percent of the time, Merryweather stays with his “go-to bait – that small shad tail jig -- and catches lots of fish.

During the winter months, the numerous docks along the Intracoastal provide a comfort zone not only for larger snook and reds, but also some of the biggest trout that we catch here on Florida’s West Coast. A few winters back, I had the pleasure of fishing with Capt. Jim Huddleston who, using a small jig, caught a huge 32-inch trout working a dock just north of Seminole Ramp.

This time of year, with the waters warmed into the 90s, most recommend scheduling one’s outings along the ICW for early in – early out fishing. We generally prefer launching at first light and fish until mid-morning. Another productive scenario would be to leave in late afternoon and fish into dark.  

After nightfall, one of your best bets can be at nearby Clearwater Pass. The well-lighted Sand Key Bridge holds impressive numbers of bigger snook and tarpon.  Be sure to use heavier tackle as there are some very large fish under those lights ready to give you all you can handle.

And don’t overlook the outside – the Gulf shoreline. This time of year, massive snook populations have moved out and are available in impressive numbers off Clearwater Beach and Caladesi Island. They should remain there until that first fall cool-down.  In addition, during the warmer month, there are always great roaming pods of very large tarpon just a few hundred yards offshore along the Clearwater Coast, as well as inside by that great and productive Clearwater stretch of the Intracoastal Waterway.