Tampa Bay waters offer fishing opportunities twelve months a year, even amidst the hottest days of summer. Redfish are readily available, if you remember that they too are seeking shelter from the heat. On the higher tides, these fish will move into their normal feeding stations, but will seek shaded areas. Certain residential docks will hold large specimens, as will caves and pockets along mangrove shorelines. Fish can still be found out on the open flats in potholes and near oyster bars on the higher tides, but not in the same abundance as in spring or fall. Cut bait reigns supreme during this time of year, although pinfish and whitebait will certainly elicit strikes. On some days, your persistence will be tested as your first four or five spots may yield no fish. Do remember that redfish usually eat when found however, so stay after it and you’ll likely be rewarded. The best news of all is that September, October and even November typically provide some of the best Tampa redfishing of the year so opportunities to pull on some heavy fish will only get better in the coming months.
Snook season reopens on September first. With near shore bait schools building, the prospects of catching snook in swash channels along Tampa Area beaches is a real possibility right now. Although many of these fish are small, they can provide great sight fishing sport…and legal fish can certainly show up among the smaller ones. Match the hatch by throwing whitebait into these swashes for best success. Many of these fish will be right on the shore so, if you are wading, keep your feet dry and look for fish within five feet of the beach. If approaching from the other side by boat, cast your baits to within several feet of the beach as these fish seem to be more likely to eat a bait coming out of the shallows. Opportunities to catch snook will remain into the fall, with some larger specimens working their way into the mix along mangrove shorelines. When fishing for redfish in these areas, consider removing all weight and fly -lining or bobbering whitebaits to enhance opportunities to hook a snook.
As fall approaches, Tampa fishing guides will target near shore rock piles and reefs in fifteen to thirty feet to catch a wide range of fish. By setting up and chumming any sizable rocky outcropping, you are likely to begin hooking mangrove snapper within the first ten or fifteen minutes. As your chum slick broadens, large Spanish mackerel and roaming bonita may appear. Next, a grouper from nearby comes to see what all the commotion is about...then a cobia or kingfish. You just never know. The one constant is that fish will be caught and, on most days, something larger will show up. This fishing is highly dependent on two factors, weather and bait. For those of you with inshore or bay boats, strong winds make this trip a non starter…so look for days with light winds that are, preferably, out of the east. Also, you cannot have enough whitebait. Your bait well needs to be stuffed full of bait so that you can chum with reckless abandon. This constant flow or premium fish food makes all the difference and will draw anything in the area to the back of your boat. Also, try using inshore tackle…medium action spinning rods rigged with fifteen pound braided line tied to thirty pound leader. In doing so, catching any fish hooked can be an adventure. Bear in mind that long shank hooks or steel leader will be required for the toothier quarry and it never hurts to carry one grouper rod as, if some keepers move in, it’s a reel challenge to keep them from the rocks on fifteen pound spinning gear.
All in all, some of Tampa’s best fishing is right around the corner, so it’s time to get back out on the water.
Good luck and good fishing.
Captain Stewart Ames
Gone Fishing Charters
US Coast Guard Licensed Captain
Member Florida Guides Association
sames001@tampabay.rr.com
(727) 421-5291
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