By Neil Taylor, www.strikethreekayakfishing.com

Still in the mix for the best options Tampa Bay has to offer, the south shore bite has been very good.   Fighting a tough bite region-wide, sheepshead picked up the slack.   Still a full month away from peak action, they are a good target when the other fish are very unhappy.   Averse to baiting a hook, I really just don’t fish sheepshead anymore but they’re there if you want them.

Speckled trout action still very good.    I’ve gotta tell you.   This species just makes it easy to be a guide.   Trout populations are just absolutely great in our region.   The south shore:  Very good.     Catching them is easy.     Run lures slow right above the grass bottom.    Voila.

Redfish action is OK.    Not like it was five years ago:  Break the trend.   Go where you never fished them before.    They changed their patterns but they’re there.  The 12 Fathom Mullet is my All-Time favorite bait for this species.     On a 1/8 ounce jighead you will do very well.

Flounder, just never really happened in 2017.   Better in the last four weeks than they were all year, we never did hit them huge.   A new year:   Flounder will be better this time around.    I miss them.

The school of oversize jacks:   They’re there.   Will you intercept them?    It is so hard to predict.   But there are 20 pound jacks out there along the south shore.

Other guides I have been watching, doing just fine down that way.   What else to try:   The Skyway piers?  Kingfish off Anna Maria Island?  Possibilities.

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!  Thank you Paul for dedicated, detailed reports EVERY SEVEN DAYS!

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

The Captain Mel Classic:   May 12, 2018.     The format remains the same.     All lure.     A fly division.    Trout winners, redfish winners; grand prize category, longest combined inches of redfish and trout.   Bonus species flounder.      Entry fee the same at $30.      All five divisions the same:   Open; No Motor; Ladies; Junior and Fly.

Your past participation much appreciated, we hope to have you extremely involved again this year.

The host location will remain at the Fat Cat Tavern.     Check in will be Friday May 11, 5 to 8PM.
We have the same volunteers to staff the event we had last year.      Everything should go very well again.    The charity this year will remain Suncoast Animal League.

Neil Taylor
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