May is here which means great opportunities in the northern extent of the Bay. Redfish and trout will remain the best options.

Redfish remain a decent target but probably not as easy as the previous three spring seasons. They like the shorelines on high tides and stay in depths of 1.5 feet of water at all other tides. The rootbeer 12 Fathom Mullet is a killer bait for these fish but also don’t forget to have along Gold D Lucks, Clear Gold or Shimmer Gold. Make long casts and keep the lure down by the bottom. Redfish in Upper Tampa Bay are notoriously aggressive compared to other places around the regions.

Trout are still being caught, big trout, if you know exactly where to go. They are eating jigs and topwater lures. The Mirrolure series of topwater lures is exceptional for targeting and catching big trout on topwater lures. Try the Top Dog Junior “18” and see how well that lure works!

Big black drum are available at the bridge pilings. Pompano will be soon to follow. Upsize the tackle if this is something you want to do. Your trout outfits will make this battle last a long time, if they don’t’ just break you off on the bridge right away. A rod with some stiffness helps.

Regular rains may help or hinder the action in the upper stretches of Tampa Bay. The rainy season is coming up fast. Get out and enjoy the action in this part of our waters!

Skool, May 24 6PM at the 8th Avenue Pub: Pompano and Black Drum. Get a pizza, get some wings, get a drink, talk fishing.

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 Captain Mel Classic is under two weeks away. Trout and redfish the tournament species, it should be interesting to see what comes in on tournament day. To sign up just send me an email, tell me your name, division, yes/no on bonus species, yes/no on the overall pool.

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.

Neil Taylor
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