Sunshine Skyway Tips
Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 12:27 pm
Hello Everybody,
I recently moved to Bradenton for medical school and I have some questions about tips for fishing the Skyway Pier/Tampa Bay in general. I lived the first 22 years of my life freshwater fishing in PA and the occasional pier and surf fishing in NC.
What I've been doing so far is using multiple rods with actions and tackle appropriate for their targets. I typically have surf rigs with 1-2oz of weight, gamakatsu hooks, and use mostly cut squid and the occasional shrimp or cut fish. I seem to have the most luck with the squid as it stays on the hook long enough to fight off baitfish attacks. Mostly, what I catch is grunts, gafftopsails, the occasional sheepshead, and typically hook a juvenile shark or two.
It seems as though it's pretty inconsistent for me with this setup. I also would like to learn to fish for snook, grouper, mackerel, etc. but im not sure what setups, bait, etc. I should use. Also, are there any websites that you may have come across that have regular fishing reports for the pier in general? I don't have access to a boat so my fishing is pretty limited to this area.
Any info is greatly appreciated!
I recently moved to Bradenton for medical school and I have some questions about tips for fishing the Skyway Pier/Tampa Bay in general. I lived the first 22 years of my life freshwater fishing in PA and the occasional pier and surf fishing in NC.
What I've been doing so far is using multiple rods with actions and tackle appropriate for their targets. I typically have surf rigs with 1-2oz of weight, gamakatsu hooks, and use mostly cut squid and the occasional shrimp or cut fish. I seem to have the most luck with the squid as it stays on the hook long enough to fight off baitfish attacks. Mostly, what I catch is grunts, gafftopsails, the occasional sheepshead, and typically hook a juvenile shark or two.
It seems as though it's pretty inconsistent for me with this setup. I also would like to learn to fish for snook, grouper, mackerel, etc. but im not sure what setups, bait, etc. I should use. Also, are there any websites that you may have come across that have regular fishing reports for the pier in general? I don't have access to a boat so my fishing is pretty limited to this area.
Any info is greatly appreciated!