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Tampa Bay - South Shore
Capt. Fred Everson
May 8, 2003
Tampa Bay - Saltwater Fishing Report
Shell Point Bait and Tackle Fishing Report for May 8, 2003
Snook season may be closed, but catch and release action has been good according to the captains fishing out of Shell Point Bait and Tackle. We are continuing to see lots of mackerel up and down the length of Tampa Bay. These fish are running unusually big this year, they are plentiful, and you can find them wherever you see threadfins on the surface.
Water clarity has been excellent of late, however the cobia seemed to have moved off the Southshore flats. I did get a couple of cobia reports from the shipping channel. With the water temperature now up over 80 degrees, it’s time to start finding cobia on the range markers and buoys.
Capt. Chet Jennings is finding a few tarpon on the local flats on days when the wind doesn’t blow, but it’s been blowing most of the time.
I am still finding redfish in the mangroves at high tide, but the bite has been lackluster of late. Last outing I watched several fish swim up to hooked pilchards under floats only to take a closer look, then go the other way.
Should be some catch and release action for snook at the Spoil Island at Port Manatee on the strong outgoing tides associated with the full moon on the 15th. Snook stack up there to spawn, and they are never more susceptible to hook and line – the main reason behind the May closure.
Trout fishing continues to be a best bet. Local anglers say they are catching mostly keepers, and that the average size has been running about 17 inches.
The tides will be right for late afternoon wade fishing this coming week. I look for a low tide an hour or two before sunset. That way I can fish the last two hours of the outgoing tide, and the first two hours of the rise, fishing only artificials. Weedless gold spoons and RipTide’s six inch Jerk baits in pearl have been the go to lures thus far.
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