 |
Tampa Bay - South Shore
Capt. Fred Everson
August 9, 2007
Tampa Bay - Saltwater Fishing Report
Thunderstorms continued to dominate the angling scene on Southshore Tampa Bay through the first week of August, and not only in the afternoon. I awoke to the sound of thunder several times in the early morning.
Water clarity has suffered with the storms, and it’s tough to see anything on the flats. Nevertheless, the redfish are still there. On a recent wade fishing outing one evening last week I hooked two redfish and landed one, but they didn’t really start feeding until just before dark. I caught a 26-inch fish on RipTide’s five-inch flats chub in pearl glow on my last cast as I was heading back to the boat. That was the only fish we put on the boat despite being surrounded by snook, redfish and trout most of the evening.The bite seemed to be picking up as it got darker, but I don’t care much for night fishing. I like to see what’s going on.
Capt. Danny Guarino tells me that Spanish mackerel have been consistent on the range markers off Piney Point. He’s been putting out a frozen chum block and fishing with live threadfins, and says that the macks have been averaging 24 inches.
Capt. Mark Thomas said he’s been spending some time under the Skyway fishing for mackerel in the heat of the day, and that has been productive. He also said that the mackerel he’s been catching have been mostly big.
Capt. Chet Jennings has been fishing for jack crevalle in the Little Manatee River and catching a few big fish every day on the falling tide. The fish are travelling the seawall between the mouth of the river and Shell Point Marina, mauling schools of baitfish that congregate around the dock pilings.
Three weeks until snook season reopens September 01 with a couple of changes; the slot has been narrowed to 27 to 32 inches with the tail pinched, and the season will close December 01 and reopen March 01, 2008 adding six weeks to the closed season.
I have tried several times in the past few weeks to check range markers and channel buoys for cobia, but wind and water clarity have made that futile.
I have had several reports of tarpon sightings in Ruskin Inlet, but have yet to hear of anybody hooking one. These fish are notoriously fickle and difficult to entice. I have thrown everything at them from dollar crabs to flies, but have yet to put a hook into one.
My favorite tides for wade fishing occur this week in the late afternoon starting today. Big Pass, Sand Key, and Simmons Park all offer good bottom for wading, but to get to the best spots you still need a boat.
More Fishing Reports:
|
|
|
|
