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.  

Pompano, just still not happening.   A disappointment for the second year in a row.    They just haven’t moved into the locations I’m used to catching them.   The most we have caught is three.    In 2017 and 2018, we averaged 30 per trip.   

Flounder just still not happening.    In spring, they were there.   Now, you target them and you might get a couple.  

Redfish action has been so-so.    mentioned below, pick a low light time of day and a good tide and you will find them feeding.   Go light on the leader and jig weights to entice more strikes.  They are the best I’ve seen in seven years, but still not how I used to see them.   Still closed, how much will they come back??  

Things kind of similar to normal summertime action:  Speckled trout can be caught pretty regularly on the 12 Fathom SlamR and Mullet.   It is not unusual to catch flounder while targeting trout and vice versa.  Early mornings have been very good and also the sundown bite, predictably strong.  Both situations need a good tide because the water has really heated up.   I wish it was more flounder.  There are a few there but not like it normally would be.  

Sharks are all over the place.    It is summertime and they are pretty much frolicking in the shallows, enjoying 100 different kinds of meals.   It takes thick leader to catch them.    Fresh dead baits for a wide variety of the sharks and live baits are best for blacktip sharks.  

Conservation, by Neil.   It is worth repeating, for the good of the species.   If you catch a snook:  don’t take it out of the water for eight minutes taking pictures.    Don’t “get a weight” of the fish.    Enjoy the species if you cross paths, but take extra steps to make sure those fish remain in the living population.  As the late Captain Mel used to say “The fish are our partners.”   We both believed that and they can really use our help right now.  

I miss Paul’s Skyway reports.   They added to this report for sure.   He wrote good ones.  

Days off:  Launch improvements.   For those who do Miguel Bay, you’re welcome.   It is the best it has ever been.   Spent three full days working on it.  Everything:    Grass and mud removal.  Shell dumped.  Garbage picked up.   It is looking really good.    To me it is amazing that there are 1000 people who go there, and I’m the only one that does any work to make it nicer.   Well, it is very nice now.  

As always: Be careful out there!

Neil Taylor
www.strikethreekayakfishing.com
(Cell) 727-692-6345
LivelyBaits@aol.com

Neil Taylor
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