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Tampa Bay - South Shore
Capt. Fred Everson
June 4, 2004
Tampa Bay - Saltwater Fishing Report
Southshore Tampa Bay Fishing Report June 4, 2004
A short respite from the ever-present wind lasted only a few days, but at least it changed direction. It seems like we’ve had nothing but east winds since the first of the year. The bad news is that south winds we’re getting now are often accompanied by thunder and lightning.
Windy or not, fishing on the Southshore flats of Tampa Bay has been consistently good. This year’s crop of redfish is the best I’ve seen in 10 years. Not only are there plenty of reds in the shallows, many of them are over the top of the 18-27 inch slot, and they have been feeding regularly. I have been checking the stomach contents of reds that come across the cleaning table at the shop, and most of the fish have been feeding on small mangrove crabs, and other shellfish. I’ve had particularly good luck with RipTide’s two-inch crabs, and realistic shrimp. I have also caught a couple of big fish on Mirrolure’s Top Dog Jr., and one oversized fish on my fly rod. That fish ate a white deceiver on the flats at high tide.
It’s been a banner year for blue crabs. Commercial crabber Jim Wade of Ruskin told me that catching crabs has been easier than selling them, because the supply is so widespread. I suspect the redfish boom is related to the surge in numbers of blue crabs.
Add Spanish mackerel to the list of boom species summer. Big mackerel have been hitting all over the bay for months, and that run of fish could last well into the fall. And just as blue crab and redfish numbers are related, so it is with Spanish mackerel and sharks. I have already hooked a couple of big sharks while fishing for mackerel, and some other local guides are also reporting numerous hook-ups with large black tips.
Water clarity on the bay continues to be excellent, but that won’t last once the afternoon rains begin. Until that happens, sight fishing for cobia on the flats, and around channel markers should be productive on a calm days – should we ever have one again. Surface temperature in the bay is already well up into the 80’s. The first good rain will kill off much of the algae that is blanketing the bottom of the bay, and that will quickly muck things up. Then it’s time to break out the weedless lures.
There is still plenty of bait on the flats, but that’s going to change soon as the spawn is over. Shrimp supply was unusually good last week. Most of the shrimp we got were medium to large. Sadly, that can’t last. As gulf water temperature continues to rise, shrimp size declines.
Best bet for this weekend is to go where the pressure is least. I would recommend the edge of the ship channels with heavy tackle and chunks of ladyfish for bait if hooking a really big fish is the plan. It might be a shark, a tarpon, or a cobia – any of which could go better than 50 pounds.
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