Winds of November
Capt. Fred Everson
November 12, 2009
Tampa Bay - Saltwater Fishing Report
November winds continue to make fishing a risky proposition for Tampa Bay anglers. Boat traffic has been minimal all week as wind and rains associated with the latest tropical storm pounded the bay all week.
I did get out yesterday for a couple of hours, fishing the backcountry of Little Cockroach Bay on a big high tide. Getting out on the flats to look for bait was a non-starter, so we fished with chunks of frozen ladyfish. We tried different several cuts in the mangroves, but all we caught were a few catfish, one of which spined my finger as I tried to remove the hook. I keep some meat tenderizer on hand for such occasions, as it lessens the pain. I had a hook-removing tool, but lost it to another feisty sail cat that jerked it out of my hand and into the drink. Score, catfish two – Capt. Fred zero.
Water clarity continues to improve despite the wind and rain. That's due to a drop in temperature. Gulf water temp was 75 degrees this morning – a drop of five degrees this week. That will make for good sight fishing if the wind ever stops. The two best fish to cast to are cobia and redfish. Snook that you can see are particularly difficult to catch. Apparently they see well, and snook that you see can see you too. Redfish are generally easier to find in clear shallow water, but casting precision is required.
My favorite spot to look for redfish is on the flats between the Simmons Park boat ramp and Apollo Beach. I like to fish this area on the extreme low tides that occur every other week. I also like to look for cobia on this same flat in November. They tend to hang near the six-foot edge and often travel in the company of eagle rays. A couple of weeks ago I spotted a single cobia trailing a manatee. These fish are generally in the feeding mode and will hit a variety of soft plastic baits, including eels, crabs and mullet.
Captain Fred can be reached at 813 830 8890 for more information, or you can visit his website at Tampabayfishingguide.com.
More Fishing Reports:
