 |
Tampa Bay - South Shore
Capt. Fred Everson
January 23, 2003
Tampa Bay - Saltwater Fishing Report
Southshore Tampa Bay Fishing Report
The fishing report for the past few weeks could have been written in very few words, and “We slayed ‘em again!” ain’t what I had in mind. I did read such a report from south of Tampa Bay last week and could only wonder who would buy such bull. Local fishing on the Southshore of Tampa Bay has been worse than poor. When you live in the tropics and you get New England type weather, you can bet the fishing isn’t going to be so hot.
Despite that, I did have a few positive reports last week. Larry Malinoski of Ruskin had a good day on sharks in the hot water outflow at the power plant in Apollo Beach. He caught blacktips and bonnetheads on squid, and he caught lots of them.
Chet Jennings reported slow fishing on the flats, but brought a big trout back to the dock after one of his “Cast and Blast” trips. The duck shooting was better than the fishing, he said, but not by much.
Capt. Chaz Waltz trolled the shipping channel for grouper last weekend and didn’t get a strike. He blamed the slow fishing on cold, murky water. Capt. Billy Nobles has been finding some trout on the west side of the Bay.
Fishing off the dock at Shell Point Bait and Tackle continues to surprise. One of our customers caught a black drum yesterday afternoon on a live shrimp. Same guy was out there this morning in 30 knots of chilly west wind. He explained it was a lot colder in Arkansas, and that he would take his fishing where and when he could find it.
Only two boats went out today, and I didn’t hang out to see what they caught.
Bring on spring. Shrimp supply has been unpredictable – both size and quantity. With morning temperatures predicted in the 20’s for tomorrow morning, I think I will give the bait shop a day off and stay home.
February simply has to be better, unless it brings snow. Capt. Chet Jennings and I will co host another flats fishing school at the weather station in Ruskin on Saturday, February 22 starting at 2:00 pm. The course covers local flats fishing with live bait and artificials and lasts about four hours. Call Shell Point Bait and Tackle for more information (813) 641 3662.
More Fishing Reports:
|
|
|
|
