By Neil Taylor, www.strikethreekayakfishing.com

The South shore: Sometimes I wish I just lived down that way. My original fishing grounds 25 years ago, I still spend a lot of time along that bank of Tampa Bay. The action, predictably good as usual, has been a mixture of just about everything there is to offer. Trout, redfish, flounder, jacks, ladyfish, mackerel, pompano and even some cobia passing through.

This should bring the early arrival of flounder. How to catch them? Use the 12 Fathom SlamR on a 1/8-ounce jighead. Get it deep and keep it just above the bottom. Sand bottom. Every pass between islands and deeper sandy spot will have them in it.

Trout action has been great, especially at low light conditions around sunrise and sunset. We caught nothing but upper slot fish on one trip recently in about 2 feet of water. They are finding more baitfish to eat and so topwater lures are working well again
Redfish? Back and forth between great action and just average. Get off the beaten track and find the less traveled shallow areas. They change locations but the south shore has plenty of this species.

Pompano like flounder, will be coming up fast. Use the ½-ounce Silly Willy (Yellow) with a teaser fly (pink) to locate and catch this most prized food fish.
Mackerel action has been pretty steady around the deeper structure. That’s where the bait is, that’s where the mackerel are. They will eat that same lure you are using for pompano if you are on the Skyway bridge. Use much thicker leader if you are after Pier mackerel.

If you encounter snook, leave them alone or at least commit to not harvesting them regardless of the regulations. An influx of new fish arriving from other areas means a slightly better chance of encountering this species. I witnessed people keeping fish out of water for much longer than necessary. Pretty sad really. A tough species, this just shouldn’t happen. Keep them in the water before you get a picture and handle them with extra care. Every fish is vital to the future.

Skool continues:
Kayak Fishing Skool for April: Speckled Trout. April 26 at the 8th Avenue Pub in Safety Harbor. This could help you get ready for the May 12 Captain Mel Classic!
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
Owner and guide: www.strikethreekayakfishing.com
(Cell) 727-692-6345 LivelyBaits@aol.com
Owner and site administrator: www.capmel.com

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