Skyway Report, Paul Bristow 7/8/2016

A series of hot & steamy days dictated patterns at the Sunshine Skyway Fishing Piers, and anglers willing to adjust their tactics found plenty of bites as hot as the weather.  Mangrove snapper continue on a fine night bite, but anglers employing the proper presentations also took some mango limits during the day.  Snook have been plentiful not only on the approach sections, but also on the artificial reefs that line each fishing pier.  Gag grouper are still one of the stronger daytime bites and some keeper gags have been taken at night as well.  Sharks of many sizes are being taken at the piers, including several large nurse, lemon and spinner sharks in recent days.  Pompano are again being taken in reliable numbers on the approach sections, with a mixture of shorts & keepers being the common take.  Tarpon are on a great bite both early and late in the day as well as under the lights.

Mangrove snapper limits were common in the overnight hours, and some fine fish were also taken during the heat of the day over the past week.  Many snappers were in the 11″ – 12″ size range, but a few really large fish were also bagged.  Some nice lane snapper have been mixed in with the mangos over the past several days.  Incoming tides in the middle of the night were very productive for anglers fishing both fishing the old pier structure and also the artificial reefs along the closed portion.  Incoming daytime tides also presented savvy anglers with an opportunity to bounce their baits underneath the pier structure where they were standing.  The best terminal tackle for the bouncing method involves as light a weight at possible – most often rigged ‘knocker’ style – right against the hook.  Cut scaled sardines, herring and live or freshly frozen shrimp were the most common choices for snapper.  If you catch any half-dollar sized  pinfish, these tiny morsels free-lined live often take the largest snapper caught at the piers during any given season.  You might even get a doormat flounder or slob seatrout as a bonus species.

Pompano were available in reliable numbers along the approach sections of each fishing pier over the past week.  Park at the dumpster sections along each pier and work your way back towards the tollbooth.  Pompano can also be taken in the restroom & bait shop regions which are strong locational candidates because of the extra pier pilings in these areas.  A moving tidal cycle is critical, but avoid the heaviest flows by moving along the pier whenever pull is too strong to allow the jig to hit bottom.  Pompano swim jigs or heavy ball jigs with nylon dressing in the 1/2 – 3/4 oz. range are best for maintaining bottom contact so important to consistently catching these fish.  A small fly teaser can be added – either near the jig or above as a tandem-type of rig.  Use a quick jigging motion around the pilings or in other areas where a current break is created.

Snook have been schooling along the approach sections of the piers for several months now, but in recent days plenty of fish are also being taken from the artificial reefs that line each pier.  Free-lining live scaled sardines or select shrimp was productive along the approach sections, and several nice fish were also taken on jigs and diving plugs.  When snook gather on the artificial reefs, they are very often hooked by visitors fishing cut baits like chunks of scaled sardines or threadfin herring.  Some big linesiders are also taken by grouper anglers free-lining pinfish or cranking large diving plugs down to the artificial reefs.  Remember that snook remain closed in the Tampa Bay region for the next several months, so enjoy their spectacular fight before safely releasing them.

The tarpon bite was excellent at both fishing piers over the past week, especially as afternoon outgoing tides spilled into the darkness.  Silver kings were staging by pier and main bridge pilings, especially where these breaks also met the shadow lines created by either the piers or overhead lights.  Free-lining large live scaled sardines, threadfin herring, pinfish or large shrimp was the favored method.  Suspending a ladyfish just at the waterline where fish are spotted is also productive.  Casting buck tail jigs along the shadow line is one fine way to spend an evening putting lots of fish in the air.  If seeking a picture with your catch, walk down to the rock retaining walls that allow the angler to get in the water for a quick shot with their prize prior to release.