The Tampa Bay Times
Fishing in north Pinellas has really taken off in recent days. The beaches and shallow flats around the passes are loaded with bait. Diving birds will often divulge where the bait schools are along the shore. Deeper waters will yield threadfin herring, and the trough running adjacent to shore will usually hold ample amounts of scaled sardines. One cast of the net has been enough to fill the baitwell on recent trips. Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and jacks are attacking schools of bait along the passes and nearshore. Once again, follow the diving birds and look for fish to swirl under the surface while chasing baits to the top. Redfish have been schooling on the flats in larger numbers. Several fish have been caught on the falling tides as they move away from the mangrove shorelines following the mullet. Live pinfish are getting hit as well as sardines. Fan casting can help determine which way the school is moving if the bite slows down. I often cast out four or five rods in all directions And focus on the area that gets the next hook up. Snook are still transitioning towards the back country. The back side of the barrier islands from Clearwater to Tarpon Springs are holding snook along the oyster bars and mangroves. However, many of the larger female fish are already in the creek mouths and bays along the main shore.
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