What a difference a couple weeks can make. Early spring like conditions has helped reignite the bottom bite in Tampa Bay . Grouper, grunts, mangos and sheepshead fishing has heated back up since the water temperature has. Though whitebait on the flats continue to be scarce, there’s plenty at the Skyway Fishing Piers. For convenience – shrimp, squid and frozen sardines can work just fine. With water temp in the 70’s and bait schools bunching up offshore, it’s not too soon to get ready for some kingfishing. We’ve caught our first kingfish of the season many years while bottom fishing in the gulf and deploying a couple flylined baits out the back. Widely scattered reports of that technique being successfully used now have begun trickling in, most beyond 60 feet. I’ve got plenty of rigs left over from last years Red Tide shortened fall run, but I’ll twist a bunch more. Can you ever really have too many? Now too is time to mend those castnets, replace baitwell pumps and begin stockpiling gold hook rigs. Time and dollars spent now can pay big dividends when you get that call… “they’re here”……
- The Neil Blog - March 23, 2024
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- Nature Coast:William Toney - December 12, 2021
