Captains Corner, Jay Mastry

The Tampa Bay Times

A recon mission Monday morning to the Skyway fishing piers confirmed what I already knew.  Fishing was slow and few were doing it.  Land based anglers too have been affected by current weather conditions.  In fact, there wasn’t a single fisherman on the north pier while I was there.  Absent too were the birds pounding the surface after bait that usually congregates there.  Pier operators did reveal pinfish have been plentiful.  Some sheepshead are being caught on both piers and there’s been trout caught at night, particularly on the south pier.  With water temperatures hovering around a chilly sixty degrees, now is when big bunches of ladyfish gang up in some bayous and residential canals.  If your kids are itchin’ to go fishin’ and just gotta go, you can wear them out and have a blast doing it.  When you’re in them good you can often catch two at a time on tandem rigged jigs.  A variety of jigs will work and if you want to catch them one at a time, try a “Docs Goofy Jig”.  Use the ones with the teaser attached.  While they are traditionally known for pompano fishing, the ladies like em’ too.  I’ve had best results with the yellow or pink ones.  In the meantime do not despair.  These weather systems will pass and spring will be here before we know it.  I already have visions of chasing tarpon on slick calm days dancing in my head.

Captain Jay Mastry