An upswing in action other places, I put in less time on the south shore than I have since February.   No question, if the people want a flounder, I will still be heading all the way south.    Other species:  Trout, redfish and sheepshead very obtainable down this way.    A little warmer when you go south, the action is almost always great on the south shore.    It has been ever since I’ve lived here.

Trout action got better with the fronts of late November and falling water temperatures.   Those same fronts broke up the big redfish schools we enjoyed for a full month.    Instead of big numbers tight together, the redfish are in “packs.”

The huge jacks relocated to the rivers but will return when we get to spring.    Ladyfish are “here one day, gone the next.”

Sheepshead are still cruising the grass but will likely switch to the rocks and seawalls within the next three weeks.  Numbers appear to be average.   We have good populations pretty much ever year.    They take a whittling down because a bag limit of 15, people can put a dent in their numbers.

Flounder?   Last year they evacuated only to make a very early return in February.  Just not a stellar year overall for flatfish.

Keep the number ready:  Felony poachers are a way of life on the south shore.    Call it in.   A poacher is a common thief, who is stealing from us all.  Put this in your phone:  888-404-FWCC (3922).

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!

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
If you see illegal activity / poaching, 888-404-FWCC (3922).  Your tips will help make cases and you could be eligible for a reward.

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?       It is even more crucial now as I had clients catch legal size snook this past week:  All fish were returned to remain part of our fishery and future.   My clients caught a few legal size fish.   All were more than happy to release “our future.”   Honestly, why not just eat something else?   Coming up on five years since the awful weather event, we do not have a fishery anywhere close to what we had in 2009, and won’t for many years yet.    Be a part of the solution:  Bring back our fishery of snook at the most rapid rate possible, let them all go.

Neil Taylor
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