By Neil Taylor, Strike Three Kayak Fishing

What’s happenin’ in the upper stretches of Tampa Bay?

Action?   Action is not quite there yet but it is getting better.    Three weeks:  First fronts of the year, things should really get going in the upper stretches of the Bay.  

The other species are nothing exotic.  Bluefish, mackerel, ladyfish and jacks provide some sizzle to your reel drags even if they aren’t your real targets out there.      Cobia have been hooked nearly every day on the bridge trips for pompano.

Pompano:   Use the same thing I have told you for years-  yellow Silly Willy and a pink teaser.    Sounds like a broken record but I can’t tell you anything else that works better.     Not a great year, hit them right, they can be caught.  

Big black drum are caught on those bridges as well.   Some approaching 90 pounds, I caught one that was probably getting up to that size a couple of weeks ago.    

Trout.   No.   Flounder.  No.    There are the regulars to UTB, jacks and ladyfish and the bluefish were a surprise a couple of times but it is primarily reds in the shallows; cobia, drum and pompano at the piling.    I am definitely looking forward to what October has to offer!    Give it time!!

Trout should get better toward the end of the month.    Fronts starting, they should start moving up the Bay.    Flounder:   Maybe next year.   I didn’t get any great reports of flounder in 2019.    It’s been three years really. 

As always: Be careful out there!

Neil Taylor
Owner and guide:  www.strikethreekayakfishing.com
(Cell) 727-692-6345  LivelyBaits@aol.com
Owner and site administrator:  www.capmel.com

First date: January 25, 2020

The idea surfaced and I decided to move forward with it. The Captain Mel Classic will remain in the spring. There will be a second one in the Fall every year. This year, it will be in winter. Moving forward it will be in October or November. A date for the first one will be announced soon.

The format: A trout tournament. Bonus species: Redfish. $3o registration. $10 for redfish. Payouts, farther out because there is no “combined inches” payout like in the Classic. Details on that will be announced after it is discussed in Committee.

“Terrific Trout Tampa Bay”A new event.    It will be in the Fall in the future but the first one will be this winter.    Low cost, buy in:  No charity, total payout.     Trout the main target makes payouts higher.    A buy in for longest redfish, the bonus species.   


The Classic format is popular.    This one will be a little different.    Trout, our most reliable species:   “Longest” fish will win the cash payouts.    That will go down to many winners with the last winners getting prizes from my sponsors.     No charity, higher payouts.    One species, higher payouts.     Length is the decider in a photo-release contest.    


Your input requested.    For the Classic, five divisions.  For this one, four.    Dropping Junior.   The kids can select one of the other four and compete.    Keep Open?   Keep No Motor?   Keep Ladies?   Keep Fly?    Have no divisions and it is everyone against everyone?     Please let me know your thoughts. 

Participation will be good.    I figure:   A Fall date every year spreads the two out good for me.    This year, the Fall upon us, I figured a wintertime date gives me more time to promote it.   
Thanks for everything and let me know if you are interested in being involved.Buy in will be $30, same as the Classic.   Buy in for Redfish, $10.    No charity, payouts will go farther.    No combined species, payouts will go farther.   
Sponsor donations will dictate what happens.   I might use them all for prizes to winners.   If I get what I get for the Classic, I’ll probably have the raffle.   I have told the sponsors they are not expected to donate.  So, I anticipate some will, some won’t.      I’d just assign donations to winners.   Cash paid out first, then prizes for smaller fish caught.   Again:  I am just talking my thoughts.   I haven’t discussed it all in committee yet.
Note:    The site for this one will be different.   Nelson’s Sports Bar in Clearwater.     I will keep the Captain Mel Classic at the Fat Cat Tavern.    Having this one at Nelson’s puts it 400 yards from my house.   On 590 at US 19.    Southeast corner.   

Neil Taylor
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