 |
Tampa Bay - South Shore
Capt. Fred Everson
August 26, 2003
Tampa Bay - Saltwater Fishing Report
Shell Point Bait and Tackle Fishing Report August 25 2003
Shell Point Bait and Tackle Fishing Report August 25 2003
The big news on the Southshore flats this week is that the redfish are schooled up and the bite has been hot. One of the local captains reports that he saw ten boats on a school of fish and that every angler on every boat was hooked up. And there’s more; whitebait has finally returned to the upper stretches of the bay, and most of it is big enough to fish with. Coupled with a steady supply of shrimp of all sizes and plenty of big pinfish on the flats, small wonder that the redfish are here this time of year. Oversized redfish are most common this time of year and they can measure 40 inches and better on occasion. These fish are in a migratory pattern – invading Tampa Bay to forage on the plentiful bait supply before they head offshore to spawn.
Snook season is just around the corner, and things are looking up. The most recent One Lure Catch and Release Snook Soiree last Saturday evening was nothing less than explosive according to Danny Guarino at Shell Point Bait and Tackle. Vic Stephens caught the biggest fish, a 28-inch snook that bested nine other anglers, though most of the others caught snook, redfish, or trout. Vic used a six-inch Rip Tide Jerk Bait in pearl glow. It was the most productive outing of the year for the Shell Point crew. Danny said he caught eight snook and a few trout on Capt. Mike’s white spoon, another great lure to throw in weedy water.
All of the guides who came into Shell Point today had fish. Reds provided most of the action, but there were also reports of some snook that were caught and released, and a few limits of mangrove snapper.
Now that the bait is back in the bay we should settle into the late summer early fall fishing patterns that are about as productive as the spring fishing. The heat and the relentless sun will be with us for weeks to come, but nevertheless, water temperatures will start to drop, and days will grow perceptibly shorter. Fish know this and will begin to put the feedbag on in anticipation of leaner times.
More Fishing Reports:
|
|
|
|
