Tampa Bay Spring Time Fishing Starts Early!
Capt. TJ Stewart
January 12, 2009
Tampa Bay - Saltwater Fishing Report
We just had the warmest Christmas that I can remember having. Actually, this has been the warmest winter that I can remember. The warm weather this time of year has definitely affected fishing. I have seen things this winter that I thought I would never see. Although it is a bit early, it looks like this year's fishing season is going to be the season of big snook.
Fishing has been amazing lately. The water temperature has remained high and the fish love it. For the most part, I've been fishing back in the bay for snook and redfish. While fishing for snook and redfish, we've also caught trout, flounder, and some other species of fish. The neat thing about this time of the year is that when you get in a spot and start catching fish, you can catch many different types of fish. I've been fishing in very shallow water. I mean where the boat is just barley floating. It hasn't been unusual to catch a slam or grand slam in the spots that I've been fishing in.
Let's not forget that the nearshore fishing is usually great this time of year. Some of the other guides that I work with have been doing some of this type of fishing lately and have had great results catching grouper and snapper roughly 7 miles to 12 miles offshore.
If the water temperature remains high, the fishing will be great through the rest of the winter season. I would have never thought that I would be catching fish on live bait this time of year, but I definitely am. Before I forget… the last few times that I caught bait around the Skyway Bridge, it was bigger bait. What does that mean? It means tarpon! If the weather stays nice, I'm certainly going to give tarpon fishing a try. Please visit www.castawaychartersinc.com and book your trip today!
More Fishing Reports:
