More and More Wind
Capt. Fred Everson
April 27, 2009
Tampa Bay - Saltwater Fishing Report
Wind continues to complicate things for Tampa Bay anglers. I went across the bay on Saturday morning to Pinellas Point to fish for trout and it was relatively calm. Once I got there and set up a few drifts, the wind picked up out of the East and began to really blow. We caught one trout on a Mirrolure 52 MS, and had several other strikes, but our drift was way too fast.
The way back across the bay was pure torture in a 17-foot flats boat. The only good thing was that the wind was right on the bow, so we didn't get all that wet. It took about 40 minutes to travel eight miles. The water was clear on Southshore Tampa Bay, but we couldn't find any bait other than pinfish, and finally decided to pack it in and get out of the wind.
On Monday it howled again all day, but Tuesday broke dead flat calm. I finally put the boat in the water at 1:00 PM and as soon as I rounded Sand Key, it began to blow. 20 minutes later the bay was a mass of whitecaps and I returned to the dock. Thus the winds of March continue into May.
Capt. Danny Guarino told me he fished between Joe Island and Sand Key most of the week and said the bite was good when he could get out of the wind. He caught a few redfish and snook on live sardines, and a few Spanish mackerel on the flats north of Piney Point. He said there was some bait on the flat, but it was tough to find.
Water temperature hovers in the mid 70s, which generally makes for good fishing as long as the wind isn't blowing at gale force. That has not been the case for much of this month.
Tampa Bay Fishing Forecast:
Look for tarpon and cobia in shallow water this month. Tarpon will show themselves around daybreak. Cobia fishermen can sleep in. Prime time is between 11:00 AM and 4:00 when the sun is high in the sky.
Target Species:
Cobia, mackerel, redfish, snook
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