Good Weather means Good Fishing In Tampa Bay
Capt. Sean Hagen
March 30, 2008
Tampa Bay - Saltwater Fishing Report
The winds have finally laid down and the bite
has really picked up. Water temperatures are
back on the rise and hopefully we have seen
the last cold front of the year.
The "mack attack" is back and the mackerel are
getting bigger. We have been catching plenty of
fish in the 3-6 lbs. range using long shanked
hooks baited with live sardines.
Grouper and mangrove snapper are still in
abundance at the Skyway Bridge. Baits of choice
are pinfish and grunts for the grouper and small
sardines and shrimp for the snapper. Most of
these fish are being taken under the middle span
of the bridge along its bumpers.
On the subject of speckled trout, we are catching
them just about everywhere. From the cuts along
the mangroves around Cochroach Bay, to the grass
flats near Piney Point and Bishop Harbor. The
size is also on the rise with most fish
measuring 16-18 inches and fat with roe (so
please release the females.) Today we caught
plenty of trout in the 20 inch an over range on
the outside of the Clam Bar using small to
medium sized pinfish under a cork.
The snook and redfish bite has really turned on
as well. The reds we've been catching are
between 24-27 inches, landed mostly in the creek
mouths and against the mangroves in the Little
Manatee River. Try dead sticking sardines or
free lining small pinfish. As far as the snook
go, you chum (with live white bait) and they will
come! As long as we don't see another cold front
it's "game on" in your favorite snook hole!
Target Species:
mackerel, grouper, snapper, redfish and snook
More Fishing Reports:
