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Tampa Bay - South Shore
Capt. Fred Everson
February 14, 2006
Tampa Bay - Saltwater Fishing Report
Southshore flats fishing centered on redfish this past week, and though conditions were harsh, the action was steady. I poled the flats south of Apollo Beach with clients on Tuesday and had no trouble finding redfish. We left the dock at nine a.m. and spent the first hour getting into position. Soon as I did the wind shifted and I had to move again to get the wind at my back.
The fish were podded up in small groups over bare sand just outside the grass line. It took more than an hour and a half to put the first fish in the boat, despite numerous opportunities. It ate one of those heavily scented biodegradable plastic shrimp that’s all the rage on the redfish tours. A second fish came a few minutes later, a 33 inch hog that fell for a plastic crab rigged on a 3/8 ounce jig head. We caught two more fish in pretty short order on plastic shrimp both near the top of the 18-27 inch slot. Then the temperature dropped, the wind picked up, the sky clouded over, and the fish moved up onto the grass. That ended the bite, and the threat of rain ended the trip.
The rest of the week was very quiet as the wind picked up and the temperature continued to drop. Nevertheless, reports from redfish tour anglers pre-fishing for the an event on February 23 and 24out of Tierra Verde were encouraging. Anglers found slot sized reds in the backcountry of Little Cockroach Bay, and on the bars outside of Big Pass. Plastic shrimp have been the most effective artificial.
Low rising tides in the morning this week will make redfish and sheepshead a best bet, and cold weather should keep boat traffic to a minimum.
Visit Capt. Fred online at www.tampabayfishingguide.com or call Shell Point
Bait and Tackle at (813) 641- 3662.
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