By Paul Bristow:
Some windy & rainy weather blew through the Tampa Bay region this past week, but it left behind a series of absolutely beautiful days that will usher in the first holiday weekend of the summer travel season. Waters around the piers cleared quickly and the return of massive baitfish schools was almost immediate. Mangrove snapper remained on a strong bite during all but the worst weather and some mangos were even taken during the squall. Key West grunts are now commonly joining snapper catches and adding to the variety of fillets for a family fish dinner. Spanish mackerel remained difficult to pattern, but some decent catches were reported during late afternoon periods early in the week. A school of very large jack crevalle invaded the end of the North Pier and delighted anglers with one of the strongest fights available in any aquatic environment. Gag grouper continued to bite just ahead of the regional opener and many species of small sharks entertained visitors casting their first line into a saltwater environment.
Anglers concerned about how quickly baitfish schools would return to the piers following the weather system this past week can rest easy. Indeed, baitfish returned with a vengeance and dimpled the surface like a soft summer shower more than they have in many weeks. Threadfin herring were holding the highest and many of the threads are running large at this time. These fish are excellent cut bait and also great free-lined live for larger fish like tarpon and grouper. The main problem with herring is that they are harder to keep alive in a bucket or live well than scaled sardines. Sardines continued to hold a bit deeper than the herring and also held closer to the shadow lines of the pier structure. Anglers specifically seeking sardines did better well away from the obvious surfacing threadfin schools and often threw nets or jigged sabiki-style baitfish rigs where bait could only been seen occasionally flashing in the depths.
Spanish mackerel have dealt Tampa Bay anglers a very sporadic season and this week continued that trend. The only consistent pattern your author can see in the bite this year is that the late afternoon / early evening period (often up to dark) has produced both the most and largest mackerel. This trend has held through both outgoing & incoming tidal cycles, but outgoing late day cycles have been most productive, perhaps only because they are easier tides in which to present live or cut natural baits at the piers. The late day bite has also been more productive for artificial lure anglers throwing popular choices like Gotcha lures and silver spoons. Many anglers fishing at first light or the morning hours have struggled. The best presentation this past week was free-lining live small to medium-sized scaled sardines on a long shank hook and 20 lb. fluorocarbon leader material with either a split shot sinker for depth or float to hold the surface.
Mangrove snapper continued on a good bite right through the passing storm, with even a few nice fish taken by anglers willing to fish in the worst of the passing weather. Cut chunks of scaled sardines or threadfin herring remained the top option. Anglers continue to fish black nickel octopus or circle style hooks in the 1/0 to 2/0 size range and use sinkers in the 1 oz. to 2 oz. range. Some anglers prefer traditional terminal tackle rigging (the weight above the swivel / leader) while others like knocker style rigging (the weight sliding to the hook eye). Both methods are very effective, and even fishing a chunk of bait on a 1/2 oz. to 3/4 oz. jig head can be very productive. Sometimes live or freshly frozen shrimp can attract snapper if they seem neutral to sardines or herring. The snapper habitat at the Skyway Piers is so vast that these fish can literally occur anywhere on the span. A special focus on keeping your bait tight to pilings or the artificial reefs is wise, but many times snapper are simply underneath the pier or even rising to strip baits free-lined for mackerel with the tide.
Smaller ‘toothy critters’ like blacktip and sharpnose sharks are an ideal target for first time pier visitors. Targeting these species could not be simpler – even for the most novice of saltwater anglers. Start with a length of light wire leader in the 12″ – 24″ range and add a live bait or octopus style hook in the 2/0 to 5/0 range. Light wire leaders are easy to make with hard wire wraps or crimps and stranded cable. These leaders are also widely commercially available and very inexpensive. Freshwater spinning or casting tackle (used for bass and catfish) is ideal for these smaller sharks. Sinkers are only needed when cut baits will not hold bottom in the tide – weights should be avoided at all other times. Fresh pinfish, pigfish, sardines and herring are very easy to catch at the piers with sabiki-style baitfish rigs, or folks can simply purchase some baits for use right at the piers. Cast your baits in the direction of the tidal flow and set a number of rods. It is just a waiting game after getting set up and often you do not have to wait very long for smaller shark action at the piers.
The Sunshine Skyway Fishing Piers at the mouth of Tampa Bay are one of the finest and most family-friendly places for vacationers to experience the joy of saltwater fishing. The piers offer visitors a drive-up fishing location open 24 hours per day and 365 days per year. There are restroom facilities and full-service bait & tackle stores with food and beverages. You can park right where you want to fish and a Florida Fishing License is not required on the piers. Rod rental is available and convenient access points are located on the piers for folks with disabilities. Safe travels to all this holiday weekend and remember the people who made the ultimate sacrifice in their service of this great nation.
- The Skyway, Paul Bristow - August 24, 2018
- The Skyway, Paul Bristow - August 17, 2018
- The Skyway, Paul Bristow - August 10, 2018
