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Tampa Bay - South Shore
Capt. Fred Everson
July 20, 2004
Tampa Bay - Saltwater Fishing Report
Southshore Tampa Bay Fishing Report
Not a whole lot to report from the middle of last week through today because of inclement weather. I can’t remember the last time we had this much rain and overcast for this many days in a row. However it looks like things should break today, and the good news is that there are plenty of fish around. However, it may take a few days for them to adjust back to normal feeding patterns.
The summer staples, Spanish mackerel and cobia are here in force. I have seen cobia on every bait run I’ve made for the shop in the past two weeks. Last week, I also encountered a triple tail on a buoy while netting threadfins. I had a fly rod with me, and the fish chased the fly back to the boat three times, but wouldn’t take. I finally took the bait back to the shop, grabbed a rod with a RipTide Realistic Shrimp on it, and returned. I had never caught a tripletail before, but I was determined. The fish was still there under the same can, and he took a couple of runs at the fake shrimp, then he finally whacked it.
For a moment I thought I was hooked on the buoy chain, but then the rod doubled over as the fish went deep. I fought it back to the surface, all the while backing the boat away from the can, and when it came up top it jumped three feet in the air. Nothing graceful, mind you, but impressive just the same. Minutes later I landed the tripletail and threw it in the livewell. It weighed 7 ½ pounds, and is about as tasty a fish I’ve ever pulled out of Tampa Bay. My friend Keli Emery specializes in these big blue gill look alikes, and last year she caught three fish in one weekend that weighed between 18 and 22 pounds.
I am also hearing about Tarpon at the Skyway. Capt. Billy Nobles reported three hookups one day last week. Capt. Chet Jennings and Capt. Nick Winger are also hooking up with silver kings off Apollo Beach.
The last one lure wade fish soiree was won by a RipTide Flats Chub in Morning Glory for the second time in a row. We had 13 anglers, and for the third straight soiree a redfish took first place. It was 26 ½ inches and weighed nearly 7 pounds.
Up until this past week, I had been fishing a lot in the evenings. The idea is to stick close to the ramp in case a storm blows up, and the fishing has been productive just south of the mouth of the Little Manatee River. We’ve caught bluefish and jacks, and lots of catfish, but the potential is ever there for a trophy snook or a bull red, not to mention tarpon or cobia. I’ve jumped several tarpon this month, but have yet to get a solid hookup. Whatever, sunset is a wonderful time to be on the water.
Shrimp have been in short supply for two weeks now, and all we are getting is extra small. Don’t expect that to change for a few weeks. Low tides for the weekend will be mid afternoon, but there won’t be a lot of water movement as we are on a half moon phase.
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