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Tampa Bay - South Shore
Capt. Fred Everson
November 19, 2003
Tampa Bay - Saltwater Fishing Report
Southshore Tampa Bay Fishing Report for November 19
The action really fired up last week on the Southshore of Tampa Bay. Keli Emery proved she’s indeed the queen of tripletail. She landed three trips this past week and the largest weighed a remarkable 22 pounds. Ron Taylor stopped by the shop to pick up snook carcasses and he said he had never even heard of one that big on Tampa Bay.
Keli has a hot spot for tripletail. She caught a dozen fish on the same mark last year. She did not have a landing net on board for the big fish, so her fiancé, Randy Leonard thrust his thumb into the fish’s mouth to jack him into the boat. This is not an advisable maneuver to try on a fish that munches barnacles for breakfast. Randy said he bled profusely, but he still has his thumb.
Cobia have started to show up at the power plant in Apollo Beach, but there are apt to be more boats than fish over the Thanksgiving holiday.
Capt. Chet Jennings fished with cable TV show host Mark Sosin this week and they caught enough fish to the show in only a day and a half. They caught redfish and snook.
Redfish have provided reliable fishing these past few weeks. I am doing equally well with live bait and artificials. My best fish came on a 3/8 ounce RipTide jig head tipped with a four-inch root beer curly tail. Vic Stephens of Ruskin scored a nice fish on Capt. Mike’s white spoon. That lure has been so hot for anglers at the shop that we can hardly keep them in stock. I’ve personally caught cobia, snook, redfish, trout, Spanish mackerel and flounder with it. It’s a willow leaf spoon, so it can be worked slowly with lots of action by constantly popping the rod tip on the retrieve.
There is still lots of bait in the bay – both pilchards and threadfins. Danny Guarino said he has never seen it so thick this time of year. Let’s hope it stays put when the next cold front comes through. I am still throwing a quarter inch net, as it gives the threadfins time to escape while the pilchards hold in the chum slick.
The shrimp supply is excellent. Yesterday’s order had many large shrimp, and dozens of selects.
Anglers still have until November 28 to sign up for the First Annual Pearl Harbor Day Jack Attack. Entry fee is $25, and anglers will be provided with a Zebco 404 spincast outfit which must be used for the tournament. Captain’s meeting will be at Shell Point Bait and Tackle at 11:00 am December 07, and the tournament will run from noon to 5:00 pm. All fish must be weighed in prior to 5:00 pm.
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