Fish Kill In Tampa Bay
Capt. Sean Hagen
January 12, 2010
Tampa Bay - Saltwater Fishing Report
Recent back to back cold fronts in central Fl.
may have left a lasting effect on snook
populations. With water temperatures in the
middle forties it does not look good for the
Tampa Bay Snook.
On a recent trip up the Alafia River I
encountered several floaters and the weather has
only gotten worse since then.
I am sadly predicting that this January's cold
icey temperatures have caused considerable damage
to our snookery.
Unfortunately we will not know the extent of
damage till a later time and winter is still
long from over.
Snook aren't the only fish in the Bay area to
be effected by near freezing temperatures.
Tampa Bay is an estaury to many species
including tarpon, whose young seek refuge in the
Bays rivers. Tarpon, like snook, don't do well
in cold water and will surely be effected as
well as a variety of other game and bait fish.
Redfish are more cold tolerant and will fare
better but will not go completely unscathed.
Their food sources have certainly taken a hard
hit and this will certainly have an impact on
them.
Believe it or not, probably one of the most
cold tolerant fish are the sheephead, they maybe
effected as well. Winter time is their spawning
time and this cold weather may have displaced
them from their ordinary spawning grounds. I
personally witnessed a sheephead floater in the
company of Captain Ric Lyles. This, to me, is a
bad sign. However, let's hope for the best.
Till next time, have a safe and quality day on the water. "Fishing Like a Pro" with EUPRO
Capt Sean Hagen of Shamrock Charters
More Fishing Reports:
