Wind Finally Dies Down
Capt. Fred Everson
June 9, 2008
Tampa Bay - Saltwater Fishing Report
Finally, a few days of light winds. This certainly improved local fishing opportunities as smaller boats were able to range farther on flat water.
We also had great tides this past week, particularly the falling tides of late afternoon. There was a lot of water moving behind the new moon at the beginning of the week, and most gamefish are more active during strong spring tides.
I had several reports from anglers fishing the flats between Sand Key and Big Pass on Southshore Tampa Bay and they were all good. Catch and release action on snook with live sardines was particularly hot on the strong falling tide of late afternoon.
Whitebait is currently found on most local flats and range markers. I went across the bay to fish for trout early in the week, and we caught a few keepers, but the action was slow. We got there late in the morning on the last half of a rising tide. We fished with RipTide Curtailers on their 3/8 ounce jig heads, and 57 MS Mirrolures. The Pinellas Point flats were covered with big schools of scaled sardines; as much bait as I have ever seen anywhere on the flats. I threw an eight foot net one time and loaded the livewell.
Wednesday afternoon I went to Egmont Key with Capt. Chet Jennings and Dave Lestman of Apollo Beach looking for pass crabs and tarpon. It took about an hour for the tide to get moving before we finally saw a crab, and then it was like somebody opened the gate. In short order we dipped enough bait to fish with. There were as many as 60 other boats drifting along the eastern shore of the Key, and at least a dozen of them had fish on. It's really great to have destination fishing so close to home.
You can visit the captain's website at Tampabayfishingguide.com for charter info, or phone him at 813 830 8890.
More Fishing Reports:
