Captain’s Corner: Jay Mastry

Mangrove snapper, sheepshead and other assorted bottom dwellers are continuing to chew along the edges of the channel in Tampa Bay when the weather allows us to get to em’.  With a full moon in a couple of days, if fishing the Ship’s Channel in Tampa Bay you’ll want to concentrate on the slower flow surrounding the tide changes.  They’re going to be ripping during mid tides and difficult keeping baits on the bottom in the deeper water.  A better and more productive idea may be to fish one of the several shallower artificial reefs, rockpiles or areas of structure to effectively stay down with the least amount of weight.  If gathering whitebait is a must for your targeted species – there’s still plenty to be had strung out along the up tide side at the south Skyway Fishing Pier.  Along with the sheepshead, “mangos”, silver trout and grouper being caught by land based anglers there, the presence of bait explains why pier operators report increased numbers of mackerel showing up with a few bonito screaming drags mixed in.  On a recent visit to the Gulf Pier at Fort Desoto we observed an abundance of bait there too.  Anglers reported mackerel and sheepshead being caught there as well.  Even watched a wading angler battle a nearly keeper grouper before letting it go near the jetty right at the base of the pier.  Be aware when cast netting bait at and around the Gulf Pier there have been some overly aggressive porpoise that have shredded nets while helping themselves to the tasty treats inside.

Start getting your tackle in order… we’re likely less than a month from the beginning of our spring run of kingfish.  You’re not going to want to be scrambling around twisting wire when you get that call… “they’re here”!

Captain Jay Mastry