Posted 3.15.2017
It was an excellent couple of weeks of the West Central coast. Many people took advantage of the warming weather as the days get longer. And the results were excellent! Prior to the strong winds of the past two days, conditions were excellent to get out into some of the less wind protected areas to see if the fish are pouring out on the flats, assuming “warmer season” status.
We never really had a winter. At all. The last front brought rain, good for the area, also a little cooldown, good for the fishing. It has been a little too warm if you ask me.
Good news with the Red Tide reports: It seems to be fading, although it hasn’t completely disappeared. I am still avoiding areas where it was concentrated enough to move the fish.
An influx of mullet spawn recently also seemed to kick off the mackerel bite. Deeper grassflats and the Skyway piers produced “typical” March mackerel action. No question, the next thing to get REALLY good is the topwater action.
It’s spring: If you don’t have plans to get out on the water: Make some plans to get on the water!
Trout are absolutely easy in the right spots. Other areas it is harder to find decent size trout.
Redfish are decent, though I would say they still remain “out of pattern” over much of the region.
Flounder: Not yet. We have caught a few but the influx has not yet happened. Checking past reports, other years they came in this early. As warm as it has been I thought maybe they would arrive early. Not so.
Pompano are great in specific areas. I haven’t been in on them but my sources have. If you know where to go: They are pretty easy. Yellow jig/pink teaser. Gator Jim’s in south St Pete now carries Uncle Neil’s teasers.
Neil Taylor
Owner and guide: www.strikethreekayakfishing.com
(Cell) 727-692-6345 LivelyBaits@aol.com
Owner and site administrator: www.capmel.com
- The Neil Blog… - July 26, 2023
- The Catfish - July 26, 2023
- update - July 22, 2023
