What’s happenin’ in the upper stretches of the Bay?   It’s getting closer to the time to start working in the upper Bay more.    Late October, definitely going to get better.   The tail end of summer, it is just not my #1 place to go.       The reports come from other people who live up here and fish there because “it’s close.”   I’ve been down toward the opening of Tampa Bay for months.   No requests for the drum trips.   

Anyway, here’s what I’ve “heard.”  

Redfish are the big story in a lot of locations and one of two great options for this part of our region.   The other:    Huge black drum.

Redfish are around.    Not like they used to be but better than they have been in years.   What to do to find them?  Try working the shallows in half a dozen location north of the Gandy Bridge.  I’ve heard that pompano are in and out at Gandy.    Very good possibility to hit them good there.    Snapper, also easy to catch on shrimp at Gandy.   

Would you like to get better at fishing?   Look at The Kayak Fishing Academy.   There will be quarterly sessions, the next one on November 7.   Feel free to inquire by email or phone call.    I give a three and a half hour session on fishing and kayak fishing that would be valuable for people who do any kind of fishing.  The host site is my house in Clearwater.    

Fisherman’s Night will resume at some point.      Waiting on the world to get better still.   Fourth Thursday of every month.   Haven’t made a decision yet but leaning toward restarting in September.    

See ya the next time around.    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

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.

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.  A released snook not harvested preserves the future of our species, one that could face stresses like algae blooms and another freeze.

Neil Taylor
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