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Tampa Bay - South Shore
Capt. Fred Everson
January 18, 2007
Tampa Bay - Saltwater Fishing Report
With small craft warnings for Tampa Bay all week long, we might well call this column “off the water”. Water temperature has dropped considerably to more seasonably normal levels. It was good while it lasted, but it certainly changed fishing patterns. It was still in the mid 60’s in the Little Manatee River as of Friday – still above normal.
For much of the month of December and into the first week in January, fishing the Little Manatee River was much like it is in the spring. Snook and trout were in all the holes you might expect to find them in April, and they were feeding. Bait was at the Skyway Fishing Pier, and while it wasn’t easy, it was nevertheless there. According to Capt. Danny Guarino, that’s all changed. He was out Friday, and said next trip he’s going to buy shrimp.
Capt. Guarino said he had a good day in the river with the few pilchards he was able to net. He caught and released two slot sized snook, and quite a few shorts, as well as a couple of trout.
A rapid decline in water temperature next week will shut the snook bite down hard, but it should push sheepshead into their winter haunts in the deep holes of the passes between the mouth of the Little Manatee River and Cockroach Bay. Capt. Mark Thomas reported that the striped fish have not been in the holes as yet this season, but that could change now with cooler weather. He fishes live shrimp rigged on stout hooked jig heads – effective on both snook and trout.
Redfish have also been absent from some of the usual spots like the potholes in front of Big Pass. Capt. Chet Jennings suspected that the water just hasn’t been cold enough to push the fish into this environment.
The latest reports I have from captains fishing the Little Manatee River all included big trout – 18 to 20 inches – throughout the river, from the mouth to the railroad trestle.
For more information, call Capt. Fred Everson at 813 830 8890, or visit his website at tampabayfishingguide.com.
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