The month of August had ups and downs.    The “ups” was good action.   The downs were Red Tide and just a light schedule in general.    The Tampa Bay area will be alive with activity this month, with better action for all species as the sunlight becomes less intense and Fall tries to beat down summer. Best results may shift anglers from the beach areas to the docklights and mangrove shorelines. Many fish will visit the troughs and beach swashes to feed but will also spread into other areas. The docklights at night gives anglers an option to avoid the heat but locate the fish. Redfish and trout will be under the docks.

New hatches of baitfish during the previous months will attract a variety of species. Mackerel, ladyfish, jacks, snapper, flounder and speckled trout will be located around the baitfish schools in the deeper waters. Hovering birds tip off the location of feeding fish. Throw them the 3-inch 12 Fathom mullet with 30-pound fluorocarbon leader. Move the lures slowly to get the trout and flounder and faster to connect with mackerel, ladyfish and jacks. Pompano can be caught in this scenario as well, bouncing the Silly Willy jig (yellow) with a pink teaser, down on the bottom creating puffs of sand. They are here in great numbers and provide a great battle.   The pompano have been huge.    And that is nice.

Flounder:  Just not very good, second year in a row.    I have finally gotten through to the state and they “had no idea.”      Seriously, something happened.   In 2016 we caught 40 or more per trip.     I haven’t had a client catch a flounder in nearly three months.    That’s not good.

The redfish game plan shall remain “sunup” or “sunset” on the good tides. Redfish will start to gather up in much larger numbers this month with larger redfish moving inshore as well. That makes them easier to find as they “push” water as they move through an area. They will eat the 12 Fathom lures and other natural baits placed in their path.    Redfish are funny.     I have had extensive meetings with other guides.     Redfish need help.      It is too bad that they do but it is up to us if we want a better fishery.      A “Redfish Stamp”.     Pay to harvest a redfish.     All the stamp money goes toward “a redfish hatchery.”        More redfish stocked all over Florida.   Why not?

Speckled trout action remains decent and will accelerate with cooling water temperatures as September wears out.   A lot of smaller fish, the big ones are very active at dawn and at night.  Trout:  Among the best we have.   Other areas of Florida, just not as good but around here they are in fantastic shape.

The biggest change to the situation has been the arrival and hatch of baitfish.  Like other years past, baitfish schools were not inshore like they would be in standard seasonal trends.   They would arrive and then disappear again with no consistency.  They are now here and they are in huge quantities in various sizes.   Anglers who do not get into the areas with these bait pods do not do as well.   The fish will be where the easy meals are to be had.

Strike Three Kayak Fishing clients continue to take their skills up to new levels.  The success of former clients is one of the best things in my life.   I enjoy seeing it.

As always: Be careful out there!

Neil Taylor
“Instructional Kayak Fishing”
www.strikethreekayakfishing.com
(Cell) 727-692-6345
LivelyBaits@aol.com

Neil Taylor
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