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Hot Weather Hot Fishing

Capt. Sean Goddard
September 11, 2014
Tampa Bay - Saltwater Fishing Report

The hot weather and thunderstorms still a factor in September, relief should be close around the last two weeks of the month. The bite has been as hot as the weather inshore with an abundance of redfish roaming the flats, most fish over slot. They are being caught on fresh cut bait green backs and soft plastics.

The snook are also making a show on the flats and getting ready to head to their fall and winter hiding places. Take care when handling these fish as they are a limited resource and we are lucky to have them this far north. Try to release them by keeping them in the water and always remember the larger fish are usually egg bearing females. Live pinfish with the tail snipped and greenbacks seem to be producing larger fish. Large handpicked shrimp at night around docks and structure are also doing very well to entice the larger fish to bite.

Trout fishing has slowed with many of the larger fish moving into their deep water haunts. Smaller fish up top keeper size can still be found on deeper grass flats from 4 to 6 feet. Live bait suspended under a cork float is producing well as well as mirrolures and early morning top water plugs.

The mangrove snapper bite has exploded in Tampa bay with fish in the 3 pound range being caught in the shipping channels. The five fish limit is easily being caught providing one of the best eating meals you will have. Use small shrimp or small greenbacks on a red or chartreuse jig head near any decent structure and you will find them lurking, use chum to work them into a frenzy and limit out quickly.

Flounder are everywhere, to target these delicious fish use either mud minnows or chartreuse soft plastic tails and jig heads with a slow retrieve bouncing along the bottom. Shrimp work well but the sail cats beat the flounder to the shrimp most of the time. Target them at the mouth of creeks and rivers.

Gag grouper have begun to move to their fall and winter inshore haunts and keeper sized fish are being landed at the Skyway piers. It won't be long now when trolling the shipping lanes inside Tampa Bay will be an extremely productive way to earn a grouper dinner. Large deep diving plugs in 50 feet of water are producing some impressive sized grouper. Drifting hard bottom with pinfish in 50 feet is also productive for gags and occasionally a red grouper this time of year.

Captain Sean Goddard
Inshore 2 Offshore Fishing Adventures
www.inshore2offshore.com

Tampa Bay Fishing Forecast:

Fishing will remain great, as the cooler weather approaches and the water temps drop expect gag grouper to move into the deep channels and structure of Tampa Bay.

More Fishing Reports:

 

Inshore and nearshore fishing guide service. Targeting grouper, redfish,sea trout, snook, tarpon and more.

Contact Info:

Inshore 2 Offshore Fishing Adventures LLC
5108 W Gandy Blvd
Tampa, FL 33611
Phone: 813-731-3426
Alt. Phone: 813-679-6309
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