 |
Past The Cold Spell
Capt. Matt Ercoli
February 16, 2009
Tampa Bay - Saltwater Fishing Report
Hello everyone, well finally some warm water again. That last cold front really put a damper on the fishing for a couple of days. The snook fishing was awesome before that last cold front. Then slowed for a few days as the water temps dropped to 55 degrees. Now that the water is back up to 68 the snook fishing is awesome. Snook fishing the last few days has literally been as fast as you can reel them in. They have been mostly all smaller fish in that 20 to 26 inch range but if you like action you can catch 50 to70 in a day.
Now for some eating fish, big trout are on the bite as well. Yesterday I had more than we could keep in the 17 to 21 inch class, perfect eating size. It's really nice to see all those big trout around again.
The reds have been slower for me this past week, mainly because I haven't been leaving the snook to find any new schools. It won't be long before I find some nice schools though. Actually as the water warms I should be catching more reds mixed in with the snook in some of my favorite spots.
I was on a giant school of permit this week, small 3 to 4 pounders, but fun action and great on the fly rod.
As a whole flats fishing is very good now. Everything is eating live greenbacks except the permit of course. If you want to fly fish there couldn't be a better time.
As for offshore fishing, I haven't been out there because the flats are too consistent for me. I may try some inshore reefs for grouper this week in between snook spots. Inshore the bay reefs are covered up with nice grouper.
Another couple of weeks and we should be fishing some resident tarpon, probably could get some now but I'll wait for the water to warm up a little more. There is nothing like a 150 pound tarpon to start the morning off with, before a day of flats fishing for snook and redfish.
Well I hope you have enjoyed the fishing report. Feel free to call anytime if you want to get out on the water. I have some openings left for Feb and March.
Target Species:
Red Fish, Snook & Trout
More Fishing Reports:
|
|
|
|
