What’s happenin’ in the upper stretches of Tampa Bay?
Octubre, and a little break in the intense heat of our eight-month long summer! Opportunities in the northern section of Tampa Bay get better every day. It is actually a fantastic fishery year-round but there are reasons to wander elsewhere from say mid-July until mid-September. The eleventh month of the year will mean even more reasons to check out the top of the Bay more but we have some good action up there now.
Redfish are doing fine and going to become a target for Fall and spring. The vast areas of shallows in the upper stretches of Tampa Bay have great opportunities for targeting redfish. There are solid numbers of fish and except for some people taking more than what is legal, this has been a great situation for the species in 2013. If you see a poacher: Make a phone call (888-404-FWCC (3922). These people are stealing from you. In a conversation I had with someone, that is why they said that they would be less likely to get involved in a store theft and very likely to stop a poacher: The store, that’s their problem. The fisheries, that’s someone stealing from you personally. Anyway, I’m gonna do something about the mook in the store too but I will also report meathead poachers every time I see them.
The bridge action, same report as ten days back: Pompano cooled off but will become a great target again before the onset of winter. They are in the deep troughs, edges of boat channels and around bridge pilings and fender. Use the Silly Willy in bright yellow and add a pink teaser. But variations of yellow/pink and white are all acceptable. In the teaser, it is best if there is some “flash” tied in. On the bridges: Black drum and cobia have been caught on almost every pompano targeting trip. This action has been slow for about a month now but I would expect it to get very good again during October before they move out until next year.
Speckled trout may make their return this month. They travel up the Bay as things cool off. Some are already being caught but with the cooling waters of October, don’t be surprised if massive numbers of this species work their way past every bridge in the Bay. Great trout fishing will be had region-wide. It may be a little early for this part of the Bay, but it’s coming!
Jacks and ladyfish are probably the easiest choice. Hovering birds are a telltale sign. The jacks are finally reaching a mature size. A victim of the 2010 freeze it has taken a long time for them to regain a foothold in the ecosystem. They fight great and are easy to trick. No real secrets to this other than being where they are.
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.
On the water: 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.
As always: Be careful out there! Neil Taylor
www.strikethreekayakfishing.com
(Cell) 727-692-6345
LivelyBaits@aol.com
- The Neil Blog… - July 26, 2023
- The Catfish - July 26, 2023
- update - July 22, 2023
