The Tampa Bay Times
Last Saturday’s spearfishing tournament in Tampa Bay focused on the hunt for in-shore sheepshead. From canoes to 30’ powerboats the divers searched around small and large bridges, up and down canals and over hidden underwater structures to find the biggest sheepshead. This was a small tournament but it’s always a great opportunity for parents and their children to participate together in a spearfishing adventure. Some nice stringers of sheepshead were weighed. Along with the sheepshead some quality in-shore mangrove snappers were also weighed. Off-shore the number one fish to take list is the hogfish. Gag grouper season closed early this year, but we found many gags planted on almost all the limestone ledges that we dove from 30’ to 80’. The protection of the gag grouper population may push divers and fishermen to put heavier pressure on the hogfish and snapper populations. Hopefully this doesn’t occur and this rebuilding period for gag grouper will be effective. On a more positive note, cobia are still in the area and two weeks ago one of our divers speared a big strong brown bomber that weighed in over 45 pounds. Sheepshead are starting to move from the in-shore waters to the shallow off-shore areas and by the end of the month some of the bigger sheepshead will be on these limestone ledges in 20’ to 25’ of water. These shallow ledges can also hold spiny lobsters so take an underwater light and look for lobster while searching for sheepshead under the ledges.
- Jay Mastry - March 26, 2024
- Captains Corner, Gorta - March 23, 2024
- Dave Zalewski - March 12, 2024
