Upper Tampa Bay, what a delight. Currently some of the most steady action around the entire region. Huge numbers of jacks and ladyfish, trout and redfish are also in the mix. Contrary to the other indications, winter is not actually over yet. The action in UTB does not cease when spring arrive, quite the contrary. I fully expect to see some great redfish action up here in the next four months to come.
Things are really strong throughout the region and opportunities exist in the upper part of the Bay we won’t have a few months from now. It has been cold enough to keep a lot of fish concentrated to the north.
Redfish actually stay up here year round but are in the greatest numbers right now. Most of the fish are runts and slot fish but an occasional oversize fish is also caught.
Trout action has been great at creek mouths and on the oyster mounds. We had trips where several hundred fish were caught on a single trip.
Sheepshead, better to the south, are also an option on the pilings and in residential canals. Ladyfish and jacks are around and pretty easy to locate.
It is another two months of utilizing this part of the Bay before it is better that you “go somewhere else.” It is best in the dead of winter. The dead of winter, pretty much nearing an end, opportunities stay until “it gets hot.” Then the opportunities in this part of the Bay are “jigging the bridges”.
See ya the next time around. As always: Be careful out there!
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.
Neil Taylor
Owner and guide: www.strikethreekayakfishing.com
(Cell) 727-692-6345
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Stay alert and make a difference:
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.
- The Neil Blog… - July 26, 2023
- The Catfish - July 26, 2023
- update - July 22, 2023
