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 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.   Think about this before you harvest a legal snook:  It is one of the survivors of the 2010 freeze, a fish that you are removing from the female breeder population permanently.

Duplication from the last report:  The same as before:  Flounder just never really got going this year.    Maybe they will come in late??   After five great years, they were a zero the whole year.   It was rare to catch more than a couple.

Redfish action has accelerated in the past ten days on the south shore.   The fish are fat and they are overall a very decent size.   There are a lot of 24 inch fish, some larger and some smaller but they are all fun to catch.    The 12 Fathom Fat Sam Mullet is the best redfish lure.    The fish are in groups rather than the big schools in other areas of the Bay, but be assured: If you catch one, you should catch a few.

Speckled trout action is good, but will explode with the cooling waters that evaded us for the most part in October:  Cooler than it was, it still isn’t at “trout temperatures.”   As I said in the last report:   The action has been decent but not as good as other places around the Bay.   Past observations:, areas I have loved to catch trout on the south shore my entire time living here have been pretty quiet in 2013.   That should change anytime now.    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.

Sheepshead?  Sure why not.   It’s that time of year.   There are big specimens on the flats on he south shore of Tampa Bay.   Lure?  No.  You can trick them on a fly or this is a live bait thing.   Fresh dead or live shrimp tossed to these guys will lead to a battle and a great dinner.   I have seen big schools of big sheepshead while meandering the flats.

Blues, jacks and macks:    Bluefish have been caught on every trip on the south shore recently.   That should go on for a while yet.   Jack crevalle:  They aren’t “everywhere” but you won’t go many trips without catching a few.   Spanish mackerel action is pretty 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.    The kingfish migration may also create opportunities for this species toward the Skyway pier. 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!

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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