The Tampa Bay Times
Steamy summer conditions have greatly increased the water temperatures and have made fishing a little more challenging over the last couple of weeks. Snook remain a focus on most of my trips, but every year about this time, they become a little more finicky. Even the smaller males that had been very eager to bite get a little stubborn. Lots of chumming will get them popping, however, patience is definitely the key right now. Midday low tides are extremely warm and most fish will move to deeper edges of the flats seeking cooler water 5 to 10 feet deep. Trout have invaded some of the grass flats near the passes especially in that deeper, incoming water. We often shift focus to more cooperative fish in late summer such as jacks, ladyfish, trout, sharks and even whiting along the beaches. I am still cast netting for bait each morning although it has also become a little more difficult. It seems to go in cycles week by week, but most of the cooperating fish are chasing sardines also called greenbacks. On the higher tides, redfish have been eating, but mostly cut baits cast deep into the mangroves. Pinfish have been the most productive but most baits will work just fine. Redfish were eating more frequently leading up to the last big moon phase, but always seem to fall apart once the new or full moon passes. Fishing will likely improve with the strong pull of the approaching new moon next week.
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