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Tampa Bay - South Shore
Capt. Fred Everson
June 4, 2002
Tampa Bay - Saltwater Fishing Report
Fishing on the lower east side of Tampa Bay is currently hot. Anglers targeting big trout say the fishing is the best it has been in years. Catch and release snook action can only be described as excellent. The recent cap on snook at 34 inches is beginning to have a positive effect. We are seeing and catching more oversized snook this year than at any time since I began guiding in 1995.
Redfish and big trout are also abundant, and mostly willing. The hot bite has been on low tides that coincide with sunset.
There are plenty of Spanish mackerel in the bay, and they are running bigger than average. Local charter captains are reporting many fish in the 26 inch range.
Cobia fishing has been quiet, but that may be due to hot fishing for other species. I'm getting reports of fish on the marks south of the Alafia River.
There are plenty of Tarpon in the bay. Gandy Bridge mackerel fishermen pronounce them to be so plentiful as to be a nuisance. A recent caller to Capt. Mel Berman's Saturday morning fishing show complained of regularly losing mackerel spoons to Tarpon while fishing from the bridge.
Catch and release action on snook will continue throughout the next three months. If you are looking for lots of hook ups, try the Port Manatee Spoil Island on an outgoing tide. Fish live shrimp on a jig head, or pinfish, or chubs. You need to bounce the bait across the bottom in 15 feet of water on the west point of the island. There’s a no motor zone that will keep you out of casting range, so a trolling motor is necessary to get proper boat position.
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