Fishing in Tampa Bay is on Fire
Capt. Taylor Cowieson
March 6, 2019
Bradenton - Saltwater Fishing Report
With spring like conditions settling in around the central west coast of Florida we have been experiencing some great fishing in the bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Today and tomorrow we are having a cold front pass over us bringing temperatures down into the 40s at night but by the weekend we are back into the 80s during the day and 60s at night continuing the springtime pattern. Traditionally St Patrick's Day marks the beginning of spring fishing around here, we are close.
Bait fish have shown up around the skyway and deeper portions of Tampa Bay in full force. With bait present and water temps up into the mid 70s the snook have been feeding heavily. Sometimes it is hard to get away from them which is not a bad problem to have at all. They are eating every bait we throw in the water and are providing great fun for my clients. On some of our half day trips lately we are landing 20-40 snook along with other species! The other hot bite inshore has been the mangrove snapper. There has been a lot of them around and they have also been very hungry for the whitebait like the snook and cut baits have been producing as well. We are finding them around the same structures and mangrove shorelines throughout the Manatee River and Tampa Bay. Yesterday we caught some nice seatrout mixed in with Spanish mackerel and ladyfish setting up on some deeper grass edges and free lining live whitebaits.
Nearshore the Spanish mackerel and bonita have been chasing schools of bait off the beach the last week and the kings should be moving in to the same areas any day. These fish provide fast action as they crash the bait schools and chase fast moving lures and shiny spoons anglers cast at them. On some of the near shore rock piles we are still finding some nice sheepshead and mangrove snapper mixed in with the Key West grunts, all of which provide great table fare for our fishing charter guests.
Spring time is one of the best times to be on the water with great weather and lots of different species to fish for. I have days open in March and April if you are looking to get out on the water and fish for a trophy or get the family out to make some memories give me a call at 813-220-8725 and I can get you out there and ensure a fun, safe day on the water.
https://www.onamissionfishing.com/
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