Captain’s Corner: Tyson Wallerstein

Water temperatures are still pretty cool for fish to be feeding heavy. However by the end of this week depending on if the fog and persistent cloud cover get broken up during the day and the sun comes out we should see the water temp get back into the mid 60’s

Inshore, the trout bite was good this past week. Cool water temperatures have had the fish bunched up in a little deeper water just off of the flats through ought Tampa bay. Now that the temperatures are coming back up look for some of the larger fish to take to the shallows were they often can be seen chasing needle fish and small ballyhoo. Fan casting a soft plastic jerk bait in a natural baitfish color around any bait activity should draw the attention of not only trout but possibly a redfish.

Redfish are showing signs of schooling up. Small pods of upper slot fish are sporadic through ought Tampa Bay, look for these fish to come together as we get closer to the full moon around the middle of the month. Smaller redfish ranging in size from 14 to 18 inches seem to be flourishing in both Tampa Bay as well as the Intercoastal. Just about every oyster bar at high tide has had a few if not a school of these little guys. Live shrimp fished under a cork for the smaller fish works great, when stalking the big fish we’ve been setting out a spread of free-lined shrimp around the boat and patiently waiting for the fish to pick one up.

Capt. Tyson Wallerstein
Flats Monster Inshore Fishing
(727) 692-5868
capt.tyson@hotmail.com
www.Flatsmonster.com