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Tampa Bay - South Shore
Capt. Fred Everson
December 22, 2003
Tampa Bay - Saltwater Fishing Report
Southshore Tampa Bay Fishing Report December 22 2003
A caller on Capt. Mel’s fishing show on 970 WFLA radio in Tampa Saturday called in and asked what to expect for the following day.
“Expect to get cold,” is what I told him.
And with water temperatures hovering around the mid fifties that’s about as good a fishing prediction as you’re apt to get.
Very few anglers have tested the waters around Shell Point this month, but the few who have reported some catch and release action on trout. I haven’t seen a fish on the cleaning table at Shell Point Bait and Tackle in weeks, which is no surprise with snook and trout both in closed season right now. There are some reds being caught in the Little Manatee River, but they have been mostly short. Trout season will reopen in the southern zone on New Year’s Day. Snook season will remain closed until February 01.
Looks like we will have a slight warming trend these next few days, but we will have only two-tide days until Friday, with slow, rising tides during most of the daylight hours.
I plan to go out this afternoon to check the local availability of bait, sharks, and sheepshead. Then I might pole a flat to see if there are any redfish about. No point in getting an early start this time of year. I would rather let the sun get up in the sky so I can see what’s happening on the flats, and also let it warm up the water.
Shrimp supply has been reliable, and the average size of the batch has been made up of medium to large shrimp. There is still some bait in secret locations in the bay, but mostly it has move to the Skyway and the Gulf. A customer told me he caught it at the South Fishing Pier last week, and he said it was in there thick. However, not having white bait is not such a big deal this time of year. Shrimp and squid will catch most of what’s available to Tampa Bay anglers during our short winter.
The latest edition of my book "Catch Snook!" just came in and is now available directly from me, or through Amazon.com. Just type "Catch Snook!" in the search block for books. Or it can be ordered direct by sending a check for $15.95 to Capt. Fred Everson, 1807 Kofresi Ct. Ruskin, FL 33570
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