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

It is time.    These are the months where this part of the Bay is a much better choice than other areas “exterior.”   The string of cold fronts in late November brought water temperatures down nearly 10 degrees in a short period of time.   The number of fish that traveled to the interior areas is always impressive, and this year is no different.   Big numbers of fish made that move, one that they do for their own safety and comfort.

Action remains strong in the northern part of Tampa Bay.   The mouths of creeks held easy action for speckled trout during the dismal winterlike conditions this time of year   The shallow flats, great for redfish prior to that weather event and currently.    Great opportunities abound with the fantastic weather pattern we have forecast.

Things are changing.  With the last front a majority of the baitfish has started to head deep or even toward the mouth of the Bay.  But with that happening, predators also make their way up toward the upper end of the Bay anyway.  Massive numbers of creek chubs winter in the upper Bay locations provide food.    The habitat and depth:  Shelter.

Speckled trout and redfish action is pretty standard.  As said already, at the creek mouths for trout.  Try the oyster bars for redfish.   Go to the quietest areas to find agreeable redfish.   Lighten up on your tackle to make long casts to them.  Use light jigheads and jerkbait style tails.  The 12 Fathom Mullet will still work very well in this part of the Bay but the SlamR and Buzz Tail Shad are other baits you need to have with you.

“Fish the tides.”  Instead of just basing your trips on “sunrise or sunset” choose good tides where the water is moving.   The warmer months, time of day means more.   For the next four months, go when the conditions are best.

No report on pompano.  Any time I was planning to try it, the winds were too high to do the bridge thing by kayak.  I think it is still worthwhile to try but a species that will soon be heading out, if they haven’t already.   Mostly the pompano action was tougher up the Bay this year.   Maybe next year will be stronger.

As always: Be careful out there!

Neil

At the request of my contemporaries, “keeping the message alive”:    If you catch a snook:  don’t take it out of the water for eight minutes taking pictures.    Don’t “get a weight” of the fish.    Enjoy the species if you cross paths, but take extra steps to make sure those fish remain in the living population.     A huge contingency of the best respected fishing guides on the Gulf coast opposed their decision to reopen to harvest, made sincere pleads over and over to get the decision reversed but were ignored.  Do your part and try to give this species a chance to return to prominence regardless of their faulty data and poor decision making.

Keep an eye out and make the phone calls.    Illegal nets found in Upper Tampa Bay have been confiscated thanks to the tips from citizens.    Working with the field staff, I personally know that they have a great response rate on the calls I make.    Too many people do not make the attempt because they did not get a response in the past.      Trust me, they do the best they can and they do respond as quickly as possible.

The great work of FWC officers to target felony netters and keep an eye on other recreational offenders has led to better fishing for us all.  Their continued efforts to catch felony netters are making the south shore region return as a great fishery again.   But help them out:  Keep your eyes peeled for illegal activity and make a call if you see poaching, 888-404-FWCC (3922).  Your tips will help make cases and you could be eligible for a reward.  If you see a poacher:  Make a phone call.

Neil Taylor
www.strikethreekayakfishing.com
(Cell) 727-692-6345
LivelyBaits@aol.com

Neil Taylor
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