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Tampa Bay - South Shore
Capt. Fred Everson
May 28, 2005
Tampa Bay - Saltwater Fishing Report
Fishing on the Southshore flats of Tampa Bay still seems to be lagging about a month behind. A month ago water temperature was in the low 70’s and the action was hit and miss. It’s been a lot more predictable through most of May, but tarpon and cobia have yet to turn it on with anything like a good bite.
Trout fishing has been very good, with more big fish coming across the cleaning table at Shell Point Bait and Tackle than at any time since I’ve been there. The same is true of flounder, which have been averaging 15 inches. Most of them have come on live sardines and live shrimp, but flounder will readily eat many of the same artificials that snook and redfish like. I have even caught them on large plugs.
Jeff Linton won the first one lure Wadefish Soiree in mid May. He caught a 31/2 pound trout on a Riptide Flats Chub in glow. I caught three trout and a short snook on the same bait in new penny. No redfish were caught, which is one of the first times that’s happened. It’s indicitive of the redfish bite of late; reds have been harder to find than they were in April, and the bite has been slower on this side of the bay.
Cliff McLedd of Ruskin won the second Catch and Release in a Pot of Hot Grease Mackerel tournament last Sunday. Tournout was light, but the fish fry and the jambalaya were a success.
Mark Sosin was in town this week, fishing and filming with Capt. Chet Jennings. They didn’t have much luck with tarpon, but caught plenty of snook to make the show. As has been the case for much of this year, wind was the culprit on Thursday. I’m beginning to wonder if I will ever get to fish in a dead flat calm again.
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