3 August 2011 14:43
Written by Stewart Ames
As predicted, Tampa fishing for snook held up well into the last month and average fish size remained good . First thing in the morning and on the strong incoming tide were the most productive times, but several spots were also quite productive on the outgoing tide. With August comes summer's real heat and this, in itself, will cool the bite. Adding to the slowdown is the fact that many fish have now spawned and are, as a result, less aggressive and more dispersed. This is not to say that snook fishing is over by any means, but it just won't be as easy. Fishing strong tides early or late in the day, as well as night fishing, become the best times to fish for those still wanting to target linesiders. Whitebait's a little harder to find now as well but is available to those willing to set the alarm early to chase that "before sunrise" bait. Grass grunts or pigfish are a good alternative for anglers wanting to sleep in and can be found in or near the passes over slightly deeper grassy spots.
August is usually a decent month for catching redfish as they are among the most heat tolerant of our game fish however this month's report is unchanged from the previous months...with larger schools of fish remaining noticeably absent. Fish are being found solo or in groups of two or three fish. Large Redfish caught along mangrive shorelineThis being the case, most Tampa fishing guides just plan on working hard if they want to catch a hand full of fish. This means drafting an itinerary that incorporates a lot of spots and fishing fairly rapidly. Most Tampa fishing charters initially target residential docks and progress to oyster bars, spoil islands and mangrove shorelines as the tide rises. Fifteen minutes on a spot is usally all that's required. As redfish make a living feeding on small crabs, a piece of cut bait is like a gourmet dinner and will typically be sniffed out and consumed by any fish in the neighborhood, quite often on the first cast. Most of the smaller fish seen this last spring are in the twenty inch range now and there are still some large fish cruising in small groups or solo. Happy angler with first quality redfishDo remember that, even though reds can handle the heat, they are still very likely to take advantage of any shade that is available so, when fishing docks or mangrove shorelines that provide shade, make sure to cast baits into these areas (under docks and into mangrove caves). On Tampa fishing charters this time of year, cut chunks of mullet and ladyfish with a large split shot placed right above the hook are a preferred rig for these environments as they skip quite well and allow the angler to deliver a bait into the fishiest areas. Towards the end of next month when water begins to cool a little bit, redfish may begin to think about schooling up again.
Tampa Dock Redfish
So what other Tampa fishing opportunities are available now? Seatrout can still be found out along the beach in limited numbers and on deeper, inshore grass flats as well. These are not the large fish of winter but can provide some rod bending action when things are slow. Another option is night fishing in one of our local passes for shark. Although a variety of types can be caught, blacktip sharks are quite common and among the better sharks to eat. Equipped with some bluefish or mackerel chunks and a few chums bags, finding a smaller specimen is likely and a much larger fish is always a possibility. Do remember that everything looks a lot different than during the day so go a little slower, use a GPS to stay clear of channel markers, and make sure all navigation lights are working properly. Tampa fishing guides also know that near shore reefs and ledges should be holding key west grunts, flounder, small grouper, a stray mackerel....maybe even a barracuda. On a calm day, these reefs can provide a nice change of pace. In another 8 weeks, these same reefs will be lit up with fish... kings, Spanish mackerel, bonita and shark.
The beauty of fishing in the Tampa area is that, even in months when fishing is "slower" there are still opportunities to go out and catch a variety of fish. 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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