Captain’s Corner: Tyson Wallerstein

The Tampa Bay Times

Tampa bay snook fishing heated up at the end of last week. Water temperatures are still to cool for an outright feeding frenzy; however, the fish are more and more beginning to remain on the flats after a cold front passes through. Mid-morning low incoming tides have been best, look for the fish to be staged up off the mangroves at the lower tides where they are much easier to target.  

Live sardines are the bait of choice for snook right now. Fresh off a winter’s layoff snook are looking to put on some weight right now and the oil and protein rich sardine is the one thing they can’t refuse. Capturing a well full of sardines prior to fishing can be hit or miss this time of year as the baitfish are constantly on the move. Deep water bait spots such as bridges and range markers are likely holding spots. Knowing how to identify and differentiate the many different types of bait fish that you mark on your bottom machine is crucial.  

Chumming the Sardines closer to the surface and then cast netting them with a heavy / fast sinking cast net can yield several hundred in one throw.  

Good numbers of redfish remain in the area and can be targeted along the same mangrove shorelines as the snook. Best times to target both species remains in the afternoon with an incoming tide. Continual cool fronts will put fishing off for a couple days after they pass by but will only prolong this perfect time of year for fishing the flats.  

Capt. Tyson Wallerstein
Flats Monster Inshore Fishing
(727) 692-5868
capt.tyson@hotmail.com
www.Flatsmonster.com