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Tampa Bay - South Shore
Capt. Fred Everson
December 6, 2005
Tampa Bay - Saltwater Fishing Report
A steady barrage of cold fronts is likely to dominate the rod and reel action on the Southshore of Tampa Bay in the coming weeks, but that news is not all bad.
One of the best inshore bets as the water turns ever cooler is grouper. These fish move into the bay in numbers during the winter months, and they are easier to find in cold water than at any other time. The artificial reefs at Bahia Beach and Port Manatee have both been producing grouper this week on frozen sardines and live shrimp. Local reef anglers recommend tackling up – there are some big grouper on both reefs and breakoffs have been routine on anything less than 40 pound tackle.
Sheepshead have also begun to stack up in some of the deeper holes and passes south of the Little Manatee River. Mag’s Hole has been producing sheepshead and trout. The action on trout is still catch and release until New Year’s Day, but sheepshead are better than fair game – these vertically striped fish are underrated as fighters, and more than hold their own on the table. Small pieces of fresh shrimp and fiddler crabs are the best natural baits, while artificials are mostly ineffective.
Some small redfish have been caught around Sand Key on live shrimp. Most of the reports have been of fish just below the bottom of the 18 inch minimum, but there have also been a few keepers in the mix. The south shore of the Little Manatee River is also holding a few reds of the same size. If you want bigger redfish, try outside of the sandbar between Sand Key and Big Pass on a low tide.
Visit Capt. Fred online at www.tampabayfishingguide.com or call Shell Point
Bait and Tackle at (813) 641- 3662
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