What’s happenin’ in the upper stretches of Tampa Bay?
Similar to the mid-January report: Tough weather has made the action a challenge just about everywhere. The very upper stretches of Tampa Bay become one of the best options the worse the weather is. The deepest cuts, channels and creeks are locations where the fish will move when the water is so cold in the shallows around other parts of the Bay.
This has definitely been the case to start the New Year. Redfish are a good one to target and have been around in great numbers in about four areas in the upper Bay. The trend to catching a fish anywhere in 2015 has been “slow.” These fish are cold and they will not chase down a meal when they are in this condition. This has been even more the case the second half of January than it was at the start of the month.
The people who have had the most success have either had to work long hours and exhibit great patience, or they resorted to chucking shrimp under docks. Action in general slowed with the massive cooldown of the water the past ten days.
Metabolisms slow down, the fish remain more inactive in general. What we really need is a great stretch of warmer weather with fewer cold fronts to bring the fish out of their “January funk.” This should happen this month.
The very biggest trout are being caught around the craggiest of areas. Sub surface baits work better at this time. Upper Tampa Bay, this is mainly submerged oyster bars. The best fish will be laying next to the oysters.
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
- The Neil Blog… - July 26, 2023
- The Catfish - July 26, 2023
- update - July 22, 2023
