Fall Fishing Bonanza
Capt. Stewart Ames
November 15, 2021
Tampa Bay - Saltwater Fishing Report
November can be an exciting month for inshore and near shore fisherman off the Northern Pinellas County Coast. During warming trends, redfish, and even snook can be reliably caught. Granted, the snook average significantly smaller than those found on the beaches during summer, but slot size fish are around.
The real bonanza can be found over hard bottom areas just a few miles off the beach. Cold fronts obviously make fishing these areas anywhere from uncomfortable to impossible but it is after these fronts, when waters settle down and warm up, that things get interesting. Once water temperatures get in the high sixties to low seventies range, Spanish mackerel, bonita and kingfish all become possibilities. For the kings, two things need to happen. First, consecutive days of east wind which will both calm and clean up nearshore waters. Second, arrival of larger bait schools of thread fin herring close to the beach. When these two ingredients come together, it's the perfect recipe for "smaller boat fisherman" to hook some big fish. Usually, Spanish mackerel are abundant at this time, bonita come and go and, occasionally, a spinner shark, barracuda or cobia will make an appearance. Additionally, this year has been spectacular for 2 - 3 pound mangrove snapper in waters shallower than 30 feet.
The last part of the cold front equation is that the same fronts that cool offshore waters will bring the large winter sea trout into St. Joseph's Sound. These trout need a few days to get in a feeding mood after the cold blast but, very soon, this fishing should be on fire. Long story short, a six hour fishing trip can yield 6-7 different species and provide fast action when the right weather pattern arrives. Good luck and good fishing.
Tampa Bay Fishing Forecast:
Kingfishing and big sea trout fishing improving.
Snook fishing getting poorer as weather cools.
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