The Tampa Bay Times
The strong full Moon phase on the sixth will push major water out of the bay on the low tides, exposing every sand bar at the edge of every flat. I use this to my advantage, looking for cuts in the outer sandbars. Redfish and trout have no choice but to use these cuts on extreme low tides as their passage in and off the flats. Neoprene waders are a must to target fish on these very low tides because water temperatures can get below 70 degrees. These will keep you warm while wading in the shallows. Wading boots are important to keep the stingrays from stinging you if you happen to step on one. Another important item is a wading belt. It will allow you to carry an extra rod, a small tackle box, and most importantly, keep water from entering the waders if you slip or fall. I like to wear a breathable jacket, which will allow sweat to escape from all the vigorous wading. I prefer a 7-foot rod and a 3000 series reel loaded with 10-pound braided line. It is a light combo that will not wear me out while wading. The light braid allows you to make long casts with the wind and cover more area when blind casting. A long six-foot twenty-pound camouflage leader will keep reds from seeing the braided line in the clear water. A red quarter ounce jig rigged with a root beer colored tail is hard to beat. It imitates a small crustacean, the favorite food of trout and redfish.
Trout fishing has been my most productive target for the start of this New Year. Some fish are finally starting to show up around Pinellas point. Winter cold fronts are making conditions difficult to target reds. Redfish are unaffected by colder water; but the conditions are what make them hard to target. Strong winds from passing cold fronts make it hard to work the shallow water flats. The wave action will cause water to slap the hull, making a lot of noise. This will spook reds long before you even see them. On the other hand, Higher winds can make it ideal conditions for trout fishing. I will use my bottom machine to locate grass flats in 3 to 5 feet of water. Motor to the edge of the grass flat upwind and deploy a sea anchor. The anchor will slow a drift and allow for a more effective coverage of the area. If I have a good drift, I will run back upwind and use my GPS track to arrange the next drift. Fort Desoto, Tierra Verde, and Pinellas Point are all areas that have a lot of grass flats, so I will target the deeper flats around these landmarks. Light tackle can make trout fishing more enjoyable. 10-braided line (size of 2 lb. diameter) with 20 lb. camouflage leader and quarter ounce red jig head with a soft plastic bait is my favorite lure. There are many plastic tails out there; it is just a matter of preference. Root beer and white are my favorite colors.
Captain Rob Gorta
727-647-7606
Captain Rob Gorta
727-647-7606
- Jay Mastry - March 26, 2024
- Captains Corner, Gorta - March 23, 2024
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