Captain’s Corner: Tyson Wallerstein

The Tampa Bay Times

Air and water temperatures have dropped considerably in the days following Ian.  On one hand that’s a good thing, snook have turned up their appetite and are feeding voraciously after the sun has been up for a few hours. On the other hand, the redfish action seems to have cooled off a bit however that won’t last long as October is most likely the best month for targeting redfish in our area.  

Mangrove shorelines that seemed void of snook just a week ago are now teaming with them. Mostly juvenile in the 20-to-25-inch range like what we see in the spring to early summer. Find areas with slightly warmer water for the best action. Protected coves are good as are areas with less tidal flow.  

The bait situation has also changed quite a bit. Before the storm we had an abundance of medium to large pilchards in upper Tampa Bay, now it seems that size bait has left the shallows and has been replace by scores of micros to just below medium sized bait. The smaller baits are effective especially for the juvenile snook however you might need to add a pinch weight to reach your target.  

Fall is an exciting time of year to fish our area as fish are eager to feed at certain times of day. Keeping an eye on water temperature, wind direction, where the sun is, and tides are key factors. It’s time to start thinking about afternoon to early evening trips as well.  
Capt. Tyson WallersteinFlats Monster Inshore Fishing
(727) 692-5868
capt.tyson@hotmail.com
www.Flatsmonster.com