http://www.tampabay.com/sports/outdoors/Captain-s-Corner-Fall-fishing-in-Tampa-Bay-draws-near_172025966
With summer air temperature still in the low to upper 90s during the day but the lower night temperatures in the 80s, that means fall fishing for Tampa Bay might be just right around the corner. The snook are still in there summer pattern even their biological clock is telling them to start moving to the fall spots such as the back side of Weedon Island or all the residential docks in the area. The best times to fish for them are still the early morning and evening when water temperatures are a little bit cooler. Fishing for redfish is just starting to get better on the flats. I look for mullet schools in 1-3 feet water on the flats. Use your trolling motor to get in position and set up. If you just chase them, then nobody will catch them. The best baits are live ones such as sardines or cut bait. There are big schools of mackerel in the bay and around the reefs for some drag-screaming fun. It’s some of the best fun fishing and just not for the kids but for adults, too. I use a 2X long-shanked hook in a 3/0 and a short piece of 60- or 80-pound fluoro­carbon leader.

Jim Lemke charters out of Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater and can be reached at (813) 917-4989 and at captjimlemke@gmail.com.

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