Neil Taylor: Upper Tampa Bay

What’s happenin’ in the upper stretches of the Bay?    Some pretty good action actually!   It has been a longer period of time since the last report because, quite honestly, fishing trips nearly every day and three to four seminars per week, I didn’t have a great deal of desk time.

Redfish are probably a better target up the Bay than anywhere else.     The baitfish surge made it most of the way up the Bay even though the much bigger concentrations remain on the coast or at the mouth of Tampa Bay.  The 12 Fathom Mullet is my favorite bait.    On a 1/8-ounce jighead, deadly when moved the right speed.    The second place choice is the Buzz Tail Shad.

Trout action is very good in specific locations.  The jigs continue to work the best but topwater action should be about to explode.   The SlamR continues to be the best finesse bait for big trout but with the return of baitfish they will readily slam the Mullet as well. 

Sheepshead and drum are also possibilities.   Rounding out the action, ladyfish and even some jacks have returned.   Flounder and mackerel will be the next to show, having been caught near the Skyway, their trek up the Bay is imminent.  

There are a lot of spots to try in the upper Bay.   There are opportunities in all locations.    If this is where you live, you should find action. 

Fasten your seatbelts:  This good action will get even better!   For Upper Tampa Bay, a couple months left before the action is better elsewhere.  

See ya the next time around.    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

Fisherman’s Night has been canceled because of virus concerns.   I will restart it at the appropriate time.  

Stay alert and make a difference:

Keep an eye out and make the phone calls.    Illegal nets found in Upper Tampa Bay have been confiscated thanks to the tips from citizens.    Working with the field staff, I personally know that they have a great response rate on the calls I make.    Too many people do not make the attempt because they did not get a response in the past.      Trust me, they do the best they can and they do respond as quickly as possible.

 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.  If you see a poacher:  Make a phone call.

At the request of my contemporaries, “keeping the message alive”:    If you catch a snook:  don’t take it out of the water for eight minutes taking pictures.    Don’t “get a weight” of the fish.    Enjoy the species if you cross paths, but take extra steps to make sure those fish remain in the living population.     A huge contingency of the best respected fishing guides on the Gulf coast opposed their decision to reopen to harvest, made sincere pleads over and over to get the decision reversed but were ignored.  Do your part and try to give this species a chance to return to prominence regardless of their faulty data and poor decision making.  A released snook not harvested preserves the future of our species, one that could face stresses like algae blooms and another freeze.