By Neil Taylor, www.strikethreekayakfishing.com

Steady as she goes!   The lower Bay just continues to be fantastic opportunities.    A great variety but just honestly, always going to catch fish in this part of Tampa Bay!   It is awesome for flounder, trout and redfish.     Normally a great area to catch snook, the ones that are there are juvenile and probably best to leave these fish alone.    The future of snook, uncertain due to management decisions, educate yourself on better fish handling and accidentally kill fewer snook.     They are in such a bad state, area guides like Scott Moore aren’t even targeting them and other guides in the Tierra Ceia area report low numbers of big snook: A theme throughout the Tampa Bay area, and sadly a lot of the Gulf coast.  

The same as before:  Flounder returned.   A lot of 13 to 15-inch fish with the occasional beast around 20 inches are very “reliable” as far as targeting of a species goes.   I use the 12 Fathom 3 inch mullet in basically any and all colors they make.   Rigged on a 1/8 ounce jighead, the flounder will thump this lure when it passes by their funny looking faces.    Flounder frustration:  So many will drop the lure during the fight, just go back to fishing and accept it that no matter what you do, you “won’t win them all.”  

Redfish action is bettter in a lot of places around the Bay and it finally caught up here.   The12 Fathom “Redfish” Mullet has been “King” on this species.    Make long casts in water that is about two feet deep.  If you don’t see any baitfish, move on until you are hooking or spooking out fish.   If you are not where there is bait, you may not be in on the action.    The south shore shallows still have the baitfish.

Speckled trout action will explode with the cooling waters that October brings.   Already good, it will accelerate.  The action has been decent but not as good as other places around the Bay.   The massive number of trout in this fishery will become very evident with a drop in water temperature.   The amount of lower slot fish this past spring should mean that the fishing for trout should be really easy this winter.   I would say that it was just a natural variation and that the mini-lull in my normal trout fishing around this area will be displaced by Wacky Action on trout for the next six months.

Spanish mackerel action is already good around the south shore area.   The drop-offs off the edges of the flats near the open areas of Tampa Bay will have jacks, ladyfish and mackerel if the baitfish is there.    They come from up north, this direction as the season changes.   The kingfish migration may also create opportunities for this species toward the Skyway pier..  Get out and enjoy the easy action on the Skyway Piers!

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.  The fishery survives the pressure of poaching, a lot of anglers and just continues to be a great location to go.  

As always: Be careful out there!

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

Neil Taylor
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