Captain’s Corner: Mike Gore

The Tampa Bay Times

s a fishing guide I never really want to wish for rain but we really need it. We have been missing our afternoon showers and without the rain, the water temperature has been sitting at 90 degrees for weeks now. This can make for some tough fishing on the flats. Hopefully we get back to a normal pattern of afternoon showers. This could help bring the water temperature down over night. You will only be able to spend the first couple of hours of the day on the flats with water temperature this warm. After that, you will need to follow the fish to deeper water were it is cooler.

It is not too late to target tarpon if you like, especially with the full moon this weekend. In July they like to hang around the bridges and shipping channels. They are holding at the Skyway and Port Manatee. The Gandy Bridge it a good place to target them at night.

The Snook bite has been the best early and late. The big females are out on the beaches and in the passes. I try to not to target them while they are on their spawn, especially with all the porpoises around. There are plenty of other snook hanging on the inside of the islands and flats. They have been eating smaller scaled sardines since there is an abundance of it around.

Mangrove snapper can save a fishing day when it just gets too hot on the flats. The shipping channels and bridges are holding some nice fish. Scaled sardines, shrimp, and small pinfish fished with a knocker rig will do the job. Remember to just use enough weight to get it down to the bottom.

Thanks,

Capt. Mike Gore