The Sunshine Skyway Bridge and fishing piers are open for the last summer holiday weekend! Hurricane Hermine drenched the Tampa Bay region with torrential tropical downpours, high tides and heavy winds, but anglers who adjust tactics to an influx of freshwater can look to have a fine holiday weekend of fishing at the Sunshine Skyway Fishing Piers! Two key factors become most important for fishing success following any large storm system impacting the Tampa Bay Estuary. Anglers should seek the cleanest water available and also look for the proper salinity levels to return. Some traditional pier species are better to target in stained & brackish water, while some other types really need the proper salinity & clarity.
Certain species are more comfortable in brackish water, and targeting these specific fish after heavy rains can dramatically increase you fishing success. Mangrove snapper, snook and spotted seatrout can all tolerate various levels of brackish water, as evidenced by their propensity to winter in Florida rivers during cold water times. Among the larger species common to the Skyway Piers, tarpon, goliath grouper, bull sharks and lemon sharks are likely the most tolerant of low-salinity waters. Anglers visiting the fishing piers can expect the salinity & water clarity to return to normal within only a few tidal cycles.
Spanish mackerel activity had improved to the point of full limits of fish being common just before the storm passed. Mackerel were in a very active & aggressive feeding mode, making fast-moving artificial lures like silver spoons and Gotcha lures a great choice to take a limit of mackerel. Strong tidal cycles in the coming days will help to quickly flush the more brackish water from Tampa Bay. Indeed, a survey of the water after the passing of Hermine showed that the baitfish likely never even left the piers, instead perhaps using the shelter provided by the structure itself to absorb the storm. Whenever baitfish remain in such amounts, it does not take many tidal cycles for Spanish mackerel to make a rapid return. Indeed, even some stray migratory king mackerel could be stirred into action by the wave action of the storm itself.
The Skyway Fishing Piers, artificial reefs and main Sunshine Skyway Bridge act in concert to form one of the largest man-made structural elements in the Sunshine State. Grouper of many types flourish in such areas, making the piers an ideal habitat that is perhaps one of the best shore-bound grouper fisheries available in the United States. Gag, red and goliath grouper are all found at the Skyway Piers, but the gag grouper is perhaps the most targeted species. Legal-sized gag grouper are very common at the piers, and plenty of smaller fish are also caught to add to the excitement. Red grouper are often too small to keep and goliath grouper are protected from harvest, but both species certainly add to the fun for visiting anglers. The bite on all grouper species has been good all summer long.
Sharks & rays of many species are among the most popular species for visiting anglers to pursue at the Skyway Piers, and the past few weeks have shown an outstanding multi-species bite on these denizens of the deep. Many visitors are just looking to have a great time fishing, and most sharks & rays at the piers can be taken simply by soaking a fresh bit of cut bait on the bottom with a light wire leader. Freshwater bass / catfish tackle is perfect for this game, but larger fish obviously require more serious tackle. Some of the smaller shark species like blacktip, sharpnose and bonnethead sharks are fantastic eating – either on the grill or in the skillet. The nice thing is that these fish are just as entertaining on the hook as they are a culinary delight at home!
Shorter days and cooler water temperatures following Hermine are likely to fire up action on many species at the Sunshine Skyway Fishing Piers. The piers offer all the services and amenities necessary for a fine holiday weekend day on the water. The piers and bait shops are open 24 hours a day and 365 days a year.
- The Neil Blog… - July 26, 2023
- The Catfish - July 26, 2023
- update - July 22, 2023
