Tampa Bay Fishing Report

Capt. TJ Stewart
June 30, 2006
Tampa Bay - Saltwater Fishing Report

Right where we want to be!

Well I do not know what more to say then the fishing is going off! The weather has been awesome and the fish have been bitting. A few of the day have been a little windy and maybe just a little hot but when you are catching all those big fish some how that is just not on your mind. But if it’s a little heat you are worried about do one of my early morning trips or the late afternoon trip when it is done raining if that is the case. If you are looking to catch that big Tarpon, Snook. Or Red fish bring it on!

To start will let’s go with the Snook fishing or maybe Snook catching its been good. We have had a lot of fun with these fish over the past couple of weeks. Like I was saying in one of the past reports these fish are staging in and around a lot of the channels this time of year. When you find these fish make sure you have plenty of bait so you can do some chumming to get these fish into a frenzy. A lot of these fish are schooley fish meaning that most of them are the same size 20-25 inches which on the light tackle are a blast. But you new there was going to be a but there are also those great big females mixed in with them as well. The next time you get in a school of fish be patient that big one will come along. The past week we have had a lot of chances at that big fish hooked up but just couldn’t get them to the boat we have had some great fish 28 inches plus.

Then I will go to the Red fish these fish we have still had to work for a little but not quite so hard and we have caught some great fish. Most of these fish we are finding on the higher tides up in the woods. That means just about what it sounds like on the high tide these fish have been in the trees along the shore lines. One hint if you have any creeks that you like to fish. We have been doing very well in and around the mouths of them. I say high tide because this is when we have had the most luck. A lot of the fish that we have caught the past week have been slot fish18-27 inches. A little different the past few months we have had a lot of fish that were over size 27- plus. We still had a few but not as many.

Then it come to the Tarpon! Um-hum there are lot of fish around. Up in Tampa bay, around the bridges, and off the beaches. There are a few fish in a few different areas but you will have to come fish with me to see where they would be. Ho-ho we have had some really great big fish and some great small fish on the light tackle which are just as hard to catch and fun. If you are looking for one of the easy places to find these great Silver Kings go out to the beach ride down the beach a few hundred feet off the shore of the beach and this time of year these fish are in big schools daisy chaining down the beaches. But when you find these fish lesson number 1 try to make the least amount of noise possible. Meaning shut you motor off drift into them making the least amount of noise possible even after the fish swim by you wait till they are out of casting distance to start the motor. Another thing try to put the bait out in front of the fish leading them so the bait drifts into them. See that big silver flash reel down and set that hook and the fight is on! But for those who want to catch that great Tarpon now is a good time to go and catch that great Silver King. If you have always wanted to catch that great Tarpon but you think that it is going to be too much of a fight well the big one might but come catch one of these smaller fish like in the picture!

If it is a Shark that you are wanting to catch they are all over the great Tampa bay!Come visit www.castawaychartersinc.com for pictures.

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