Spring in February
Capt. Dustin Hilliard
February 20, 2018
Tampa Bay - Saltwater Fishing Report
Spring has arrived early and we're glad to see the water temperatures out of the 50's. Bait is thick and gamefish are a lot more active.
The trout bite has been on fire with 17 to 22 inchers being the average size fish. White bait has been the go-to, but shrimp and pinfish can work as well. Or, artificial lures like suspending baits, 1/4 ounce jig heads with a plastic body bouncing on the bottom always gets there attention.
Snook are starting to push out of the rivers and backcountry areas due to the water temps increasing so rapidly. Greenbacks and grunts are my first choice of baits. Look for the snook to probably start pushing out to the beaches and islands early this year if this warm weather continues.
Redfish are biting well on incoming tides. The best bet has been to following the incoming tide as the water gets way into the mangroves. Look for cuts that you can pitch your baits into as sometimes they don't want to come out of the shadow line. White bait and live shrimp have been working well!
Tight Lines,
Captain Dustin
(727) 487-3045
www.captaindustin.com
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