Skyway Report, 1/20/2017

It took savvy angling skills and planning to determine the best methods at the Sunshine Skyway Fishing Piers over the past week of near-record warmth in January.  Winter species are at the piers, but more curious anglers outperformed others by about three fish to one at certain times.  Sheepshead are one species where regulars (and those that ask questions of pier staff) outperformed those seeking no advice by massive margins.  Spanish mackerel were yet another species that regulars caught in admirable numbers, but also eluded visitors looking for the simpler ‘spring tactic’ spoon or Gotcha lure approach.  Some mangrove snapper & spotted seatrout graced the shallows for anglers willing to fish the right tides at the right times.  The same held true for anglers seeking silver trout at the North Pier.

Sheepshead are currently in transition from their normal haunts to spawning grounds that often include the Sunshine Skyway Fishing Piers.  At these times, fish will often hold amongst the reefs and/or pilings where they cannot be seen by anglers.  Anglers only willing to target areas where they see fish were nearly left empty, while anglers that fished the reefs and pilings along typical hot areas caught plenty of nice sheepshead.  Lose the wire and go with only small bits of freshly cut shrimp or fiddler crabs.  Light fluorocarbon leader material in the 15 lb. range with a strong Size #1 baitholder hook and a split-shot sinker is all the necessary tackle.

Some Spanish mackerel, jacks and bluefish are available for nearly all visitors willing to spend some fishing time at the piers.  All three species will feed much more heavily in a few months time, but all three can also be caught each day – all winter long – by anglers willing to throw light tackle jigs and sabiki-style baitfish rigs.  These species make their presence known amongst winter baitfish schools by blowing the small sardines or herring right out of the water.  Match the hatch, fish light, target the best tidal movements and listen to other anglers.  Winter fish are smaller and more scarce, but if you think nobody is catching mackerel at the piers, then you have lost the first part of the game.  Somebody is almost always catching fish – they may be outworking you or using a better approach – but few days pass without at least somebody explaining how they outwitted the mackerel that day and showing a cooler of fish.

Spotted seatrout made a strong morning appearance during early incoming tides on the approach sections of both fishing piers.  Spotted trout gather each winter along the fallen rock retaining walls and pier pilings that both help them warm-up from life on the grass flats and congregate small baits.  Casting a small 1/8 oz. gold glitter pattern of shrimp or other soft plastic favorite lure was most effective.  Free-lining live shrimp on a small Size #1 octopus hook with a 1/8 oz. split-shot sinker was also great.  A select few anglers even took trophy-sized trout in the upper 20″ range along the approach sections.  Most of these cats released their fish and said very little – other than that they were casting small baitfish-imitating suspending plugs.

One critical lesson – especially during the winter season – at the Skyway Piers is to fish the best tides at the best times for the species most willing to bite at that time.  Although this seems elementary, there are countless times when I have told visitors exactly when to show up at the best time for a certain species during the very best tide…  As anglers are leaving with a cooler full of fish caught in very little time, those late to the game will just be showing up…  Winter fishing windows, however, are much smaller…  They are wide open to those willing experiment, learn and spend some time in one of the nation’s finest winter climates.