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Tampa Bay - South Shore
Capt. Fred Everson
July 8, 2002
Tampa Bay - Saltwater Fishing Report
Southshore Tampa Bay Fishing Report
Anglers on the Southshore of Tampa Bay continue to catch big Spanish mackerel between Apollo Beach and the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. The bite has been tougher than it was a couple of months ago, but the macks are still plentiful and willing. They will still take artificials, but live bait and cut bait has become more productive. The preponderance of threadfin herring makes choice of bait easy. This is what the mackerel are eating in the summer months on Tampa Bay.
Huge schools of threadfin herring were visible on the surface on the edge of the Southshore flats all the way out to the middle of the bay. Tarpon, cobia, and sharks also rely on the abundant threadfins as a ready food source, and can often be found close by.
The tarpon bite on the Southshore of Tampa Bay has been erratic, but there seem to be plenty of fish around. Live threadfins fished under floats are taking most of the fish according to Capt. Chet Jennings of Ruskin, and Capt. Nick Winger of Apollo Beach.
Flats action is still centered around sunrise and sunset. The trout bite on the low rising tide has been very good on the sand bar that runs the length of the shoreline between Simmons Park and Joe Island. Soon as the current starts flowing across the bar, an explosive bite turns on. Catch and release action on snook has also been good on the same tide.
There are also plenty of redfish tailing on the low incomer, but the bite has proved tough. Live shrimp or plastic imitations are probably the best bet for reds this time of year.
Bottom fishing this time of year is centered on mangrove snapper, but I’m also hearing some reports of keeper gag grouper just outside the Skyway Bridge. Weak tides will rule this week, making the deep-water species the prime target for the next few days.
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