Captain’s Corner: Tyson Wallerstein

The Tampa Bay Times

Although red tide remains in high concentrations in certain areas namely our south county beaches. It appears to be calming down a bit in others. The lower portion of Tampa Bay has been getting crushed the past couple of weeks by the bloom. However, the most recent reports conducted by the FWC show it is thinning out in the bay. Follow the current status of the bloom updated every week @ myfwc.com.  

Areas outside of the bloom have been fishing well all things considered. The Intercoastal Waterway north of Belleair Causeway has been clean this week and the bait is living in the live well. High afternoon tides have been producing decent redfish action around many of the spoil islands and no motor zone areas. Top-water plugs fished around mullet schools early in the day will produce strikes from redfish. Once the tide is up cut bait such as ladyfish, mullet and pinfish all work well fished as far under the mangroves as possible.  

Near-shore bottom fishing for grunts and mangrove snapper has been good in depth ranging from 25 to 30 foot. Small pilchards can be cast-netted along the bridge shadow lines at night and chummed up over clean grass flats near the passes. These little baits work perfect for the snapper and grunts when fished on a small hook with just enough weight to reach the bottom. Target ledges and near-shore reefs that offer high relief.  
Capt. Tyson Wallerstein
Flats Monster Inshore Fishing
(727) 692-5868
capt.tyson@hotmail.com
www.Flatsmonster.com