Skyway Report, 1/27/2017

As Gasparilla Pirates invade Tampa Bay, plenty of fish species were also invading the depths, reefs and pilings of the Sunshine Skyway Fishing Piers.  Spanish mackerel appeared to be either really hot or really cold – with some banner days ahead of frontal weather and some slow days afterwards.  Sheepshead are gaining strength in both size and numbers as we approach the February spawning period for this species.  Spotted and silver trout remained on a solid bite at both piers – with more silvers in the depths and more specks in the shallows.  Schools of jack crevalle also ravaged the area throughout the week as they blasted schools of smaller scaled sardines into the air.  Finally, plenty of big gag grouper remain active for anglers who seek the fun of a fight more so than the fillets during the grouper closure.

Spanish mackerel fed heavily at times last weekend and Monday ahead of this past week’s cold front.  After the font, waters were slightly murky and tougher to fish, despite the fact that baitfish (and likely mackerel) still remained.  Fishing ahead of a winter cold front at the piers can be absolutely outstanding and this past week’s example was no different.  A full limit of fish can often be taken within just about an hour of fishing time and these fish are usually very aggressive.  For the most eager mackerel, it is tough to beat a Gotcha lure or silver spoon.  These baits can be fished quickly and ease the burden of having to re-bait with cut strips or live baits.  In addition, fast moving schools can often be chased down the piers on foot and these artificial lure presentations allow greater mobility.  If the bite diminishes in this scenario, first go to small white crappie-style jigs (fished more slowly) and finally to cut natural baits.  When a rampaging school of mackerel passes, some stragglers almost always linger behind.  The small jigs mimic falling bits of partially devoured prey as (obviously) do the cut strip baits.  This tactic will very often catch 2 or 3 more mackerel as other anglers are proclaiming the bite over.

Sheepshead started to show in good catchable numbers in most of their traditional spawning aggregation areas at both fishing piers.  Every winter, this outlaw member of the Porgy Family of Fishes invades the Tampa Bay Estuary.  The Skyway Piers are a natural place for fish to gather and feed as the spawning period approaches.  Experienced anglers reported only small egg clusters in the female fish they kept – suggesting that a peak gathering is still several weeks away.  Small shrimp or cut bits of larger shrimp, sand fleas and fiddler crabs were the most popular bait choices.  Anglers were using Size #1 bait-holder or octopus-style hooks and the least amount of weight they could deploy to effectively hold  bottom.  Some say you must ‘anticipate’ the bite of this notorious bait-stealer and others say you should let them put a slight bend in the rod before setting up…  I have seen both methods used with great success – which is why this debate is unlikely to ever end – and why this species is so fun to pursue!

Spotted seatrout remained around the rock retaining walls and current troughs that line the entrance sections to each fishing pier.  Fish can often be seen schooling in the right light & tidal cycles, but the same schools often simply switch sides with changing conditions, which makes them accessible during multiple tides and at many time periods during the day.  Spotted trout were mostly taken on free-lined shrimp and small pinfish.  The presentation is about at simple as it gets, with 15 lb. or 20 lb. fluorocarbon leader material coupled with a 1/0 or 2/0 black nickel octopus-style hook.  The only weight necessary might be a small split-shot sinker or two, but try your luck without before weighting your bait.  Anglers that like artificial lures can go with a gold glitter or glow shrimp or a small suspending plug.

Silver trout have likely been the most consistent bite over the past several weeks, and it is not uncommon for this aggressive member of the Drum Family of Fishes to save many pier outings.  Silvers can be caught in the dumpster, bait shop and end sections of both fishing piers, but the very end of the North Pier is almost always the most consistent location.  Catches of 100 fish were reported this past week, but anglers did admit that they released the majority of smaller 7″ – 10″ fish and sought those in the 12″ – 15″ size range.  Silver trout will never get very large in any environment, but the Skyway Piers produce fish every season that push the 18″ size range.  There are always exceptions – and of course those ‘record-class’ fish – but an 18″ silver trout is at least approaching the maximum length generally attainable by this species in Tampa Bay.  The best rigs for numbers of silvers are multi-hook sabiki-style baitfish rigs in the #6, #4 or 1/0 range.

Seeking the largest silvers at the piers?  Sink and/or free-line a live shrimp or scaled sardine with only enough weight to keep the offering near the bottom.  For those that think this species is indiscriminate in feeding, most would agree for the bulk of silvers taken…  But trophy-class silvers pushing into the spotted trout size range are an angling art.  It is often the exact same anglers that take these larger fish every season at the piers.