Finally! A week in Tampa Bay where consistent warm weather allowed both baitfish & predators to maintain springtime feeding activity at the Sunshine Skyway Fishing Piers. Limits of sheepshead were very common this past week, and even larger groups of visiting anglers were able to procure multiple limits of fish. Spanish mackerel activity was on the increase, and seemed to rise in association with the higher levels of baitfish activity near the end of the week. Whiting have joined silver trout to make for many happy visitors seeking fillets for a family fish fry. Finally, shark activity picked-up dramatically, mostly in conjunction with the mackerel & baitfish schools.
The largest Spanish mackerel this past week came from the approach section of the South Pier, but perhaps more full limits of fish came from the end region of the North Pier. Mackerel trees, larger sabiki-style baitfish rigs and white tandem nylon jigs were all excellent mackerel producers on both piers. At this time of the year, the mackerel bite can fire-up on one pier at the same time the other pier is fishing slower. Often, the most successful anglers are readily willing to switch piers, as the Skyway fishing passes are valid at both pier locations.
The North Pier often produced limits of smaller (but legal) Spanish mackerel holding & feeding near the main channel end of the pier. Vertically jigging large sabiki-style baitfish rigs or mackerel trees in the tidal current was very productive on the North Pier, but casting & retrieving these same rigs was better on the South Pier. Mackerel appeared to be holding deeper in the water column on both piers, and anglers fishing slower and constantly hugging the bottom were able to entice the most fish. Silver spoons and Gotcha plugs started to take off later in the week, especially when some larger & more aggressive mackerel seemed to arrive.
Sheepshead spawning activity was apparent during the warmest portion of the week, and at times the bite was fast and furious for enthusiasts looking to bag this tasty porgy. Crabs of many varieties were the bait of choice, but were followed closely by smaller live shrimp. Anglers were using 1/0 hooks, 15 lb. fluorocarbon leader and as little lead weight as possible to effectively present the bait. Schools were moving underneath the pier as the tidal flow dictated.
Whiting joined silver trout in a great daytime & nighttime vertical jigging bite at the end of the North Pier. Adding a small strip of squid to ‘chicken rigs’ or larger sabiki-style baitfish rigs commonly took a combination of whiting & silvers on the same drop. Deploy plenty of weight so that your lowest dropper loop is just inches above the bottom. Do not be surprised if a Spanish mackerel or pompano crashes the party, as this method is also deadly on these species at this time of the year. Whiting & silver trout are both excellent choices to fill a cooler for a family fish fry.
- The Skyway, Paul Bristow - August 24, 2018
- The Skyway, Paul Bristow - August 17, 2018
- The Skyway, Paul Bristow - August 10, 2018
