I have been asked to not stop sending this particular message: Catch a legal snook: Let it go. Let’s rebuild this trophy fishery. We have plenty of other options for take-home fish, why shoot yourself in the foot and limit your own future? The decision to reopen, terrible for big snook. Very few are passing through and becoming big adult females. Instead of having a great fishery of large snook, we have mostly small fish. It is a shame. The south shore, best odds around the region to catch one. Average size? 18 inches.
Flounder finally got better. The ticket: The 12 Fathom SlamR or Buzz Tail Shad (on a 1/8-ounce jighead). Gold. Throw into any sand patch you see and watch what happens. Flounder to 23 inches caught, we finally had a couple of big days with more than 30 caught per day. That hadn’t happened all year.
Redfish are here (and there) and sometimes everywhere. If you are lucky, you will connect with a “school.” If you are unlucky, but smart, you will still intercept and hook one of these fish. Lots of upper slot fish, some juveniles and still a number of way overslot fish around to be caught. They are not completely back to regular pattern but the closest they have been in ten months.
Speckled trout: Better but still not what we “know is coming.” It is going to be speck-tacular. One or two more cold fronts and it will be on track to one of the best Florida trout winters we have ever had. Pity, we couldn’t pick on and bash trout and protect the snook instead…. They repopulate constantly. Last year’s 13 inchers? Wow, what a great stretch we have ahead. Lots of fish in the 16 to 19 inch range right now.
Pompano, mangrove snapper and both Spanish and king mackerel are pretty solid targets. It’s October: That’s what we have. And enjoy it. Throw in jacks, ladyfish and bluefish and you have a real party! Pompano are a big target and will be until it truly becomes “winter.” They will move down to Sarasota when that happens.
Mackerel are also caught nearly every day out on the south shore.
Want to know what’s going on off the Skyway piers? To get detailed reports, check The Skyway Report on capmel.com. Written by Paul Bristow every week, he keeps you on the heartbeat of the Skyway bite. Get out and enjoy the easy action on the Skyway Piers!
The lower Bay just continues to be great opportunities. Again, in a battle that is never really over: The great work of FWC officers to target felony netters and keep an eye on other recreational offenders has led to better fishing for us all. Their continued efforts to catch felony netters are making the south shore region return as a great fishery again. But help them out: Keep your eyes peeled for illegal activity and make a call if you see poaching, 888-404-FWCC (3922). Your tips will help make cases and you could be eligible for a reward.
As always: Be careful out there!
Neil Taylor
Owner and guide: www.strikethreekayakfishing.com
(Cell) 727-692-6345 LivelyBaits@aol.com
Owner and site administrator: www.capmel.com
Co-host: Outdoor Fishing Adventures, 8 to 9AM Sundays on 1040 “The Team”
- The Neil Blog… - July 26, 2023
- The Catfish - July 26, 2023
- update - July 22, 2023
