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Tampa Bay - South Shore
Capt. Fred Everson
February 12, 2003
Tampa Bay - Saltwater Fishing Report
Southshore Tampa Bay Fishing Report
It would appear that the peril is over for snook, and despite a cold-water situation that could have devastated this remarkable species, the fish proved a lot more resilient than ever thought possible. With water temperatures that dipped into the low fifties with the regular passage of severe cold fronts, the snook somehow bucked up and survived.
And that's only part of the good news.
The reports I'm getting at Shell Point Bait and Tackle from the local guides indicates that whitebait is plentiful and perfect sized, even if the water temperature is still too low to put it to good use. That the bait is still up in the bay this time of year means that we will probably have it in close proximity all through the spring spawn. It's sure handy not having to run to the Skyway in 15 knots of north wind.
I am getting some positive reports from anglers at the bait shop these past few sunny days. Francis Hendrickson and his 90-year-old father, Bob caught a pair of big drum yesterday. The senior Hendrickson landed the bigger of the two fish, which weighed about 15 pounds.
I had another report from upriver that touted redfish and trout, and yet another from the passes of Little Cockroach Bay where anglers caught plenty of redfish that were right at the bottom of the slot.
No word on snook just yet, and I don't expect much until the water temp comes up to 65 degrees. Most anglers are simply leaving them alone until they've had a chance to recover from the hardships of a severely cold winter.
There should be some cobia on the flats in the next couple of weeks. Water clarity in the bay is currently about as good as it ever gets. This makes sight fishing for reds and cobia a best bet on calm days in late February and through March, if there is such a thing as a calm day. I like to throw 10-inch Berkley Power eels at the cobia on half-ounce Rip Tide Jig heads. Redfish in clear skinny water will usually take a gold spoon or a 7MR Mirrolure, but you need to make long casts well ahead of the fish. Redfish are extremely sensitive when the water is this clear. Live shrimp will also do the trick, but you can cover a lot more water with a spoon.
Capt. Chet Jennings and I will be hosting a seminar on Southshore Tampa Bay Fishing at the Frank Sargeant Show at 5:00 pm on Friday, February 28 at the State Fairgrounds on 301 in Tampa. We will also be conducting another of our Flats Fishing Schools in Ruskin on February 22 at the weather station off SR 674. Cost is $40 per person and the course is roughly four hours long. For registration, directions, or information, call the bait shop during the day at (813) 641 3662, or call during the evening at (813) 641 7697.
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