The Tampa Bay Times

The best time of the year to fish in the Tampa bay area has arrived with a vengeance.  The weather finally broke from the summer pattern and has triggered all the inshore species into a feeding frenzy.  Water temperatures are in the low eighties, ideal for snook to start feeding before their annual migration back to there winter hideouts.  Schools of redfish have invaded the flats around Tierre Verde.  I counted five different schools that I could target the last week on the major high tides from the new moon.  Trout has become a much easier target and can be caught in the same area that redfish are lurking. Bait is easy to find; I look for birds diving at any of the bay area bridges.  This is a great indicator that the bridge is loaded up with threadfin herring and scaled sardines.  I like to throw my 12-foot cast net up current side of the bridge and let it sink to the bottom into the shadow line.  Usually one throw is all it takes to fill the well.  The trick is not to over stuff the well, causing the bait to die. Cooling water temperatures triggers certain fish to travel up and down the west coast of Florida.  One of my favorites is the Cobia, often mistaken as a shark.  I cruise certain flats this time of the year looking for large stingrays and spotted eagle rays.  Cobia will follow right on top or just behind looking for easy prey the ray’s spooks off the bottom from swimming.  They will eat almost anything thrown at them. Captain Rob Gorta727-647-7606www.captainrobgorta.com

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