Easing into summer, what is going on in the northern part of Tampa Bay?  As usual, there is always something to catch is you like the interior of the Bay.   The opportunities are interesting and they should be great for a while, at least until the superheating of the water occurs after we get into the crux of summertime weather patterns.  I would put action in the upper Bay below average.   Talking to friends the fishkill last summer hurt the numbers of fish in the upper Bay.

Redfish are always a constant inside Tampa Bay.   This is a pretty good time to target them.     The rootbeer 12 Fathom Mullet is a killer bait for these fish.     Make long casts and keep the lure down by the bottom.   Move around to find the fish and do everything as quietly as possible.   These fish are the most sensitive to noise and movement and the stealth angler has the advantage.   The same areas that have good numbers of mullet are also good locations to search for redfish.

Same as before- Trout are still being located, though with less consistency than a few weeks ago.   Areas with craggy oyster bottom and bigger baitfish may also have the large trout.   The jigs seem to work best but the topwater action has been decent, especially toward sunset.   I would say that trout are a better option “on the outside” rather that way up in the Bay, probably until November.

Big black drum are already at the big bridges and will be for the rest of the year.  Upsize your tackle if you want to control a bigger fish.   Food value: Zero.  The smaller drum are edible but  these bigger fish are a catch and release decision.    If you keep one to eat, you need to have a tough stomach.   The stench and the presence of masses of parasites in the meat, just let them go.

Pompano:  this species will be the next to return in big numbers.   It is still early yet to expect them to arrive in the biggest numbers but that could happen early this year.   The fish in the south Suncoast and at the mouth of Tampa Bay will make their way up to the bridges of upper Tampa Bay sometime in the next four weeks.

Region wide- The numbers of snook continue to remain poor and there is little question that the recovery of that species is still going to take some time.  A majority of veteran anglers won’t fish the species at all, something that helps avoid accidental loss of fish that are vital to the upcoming spawn.   This marks the fourth year that I removed the species as a target or my own charters, with hopes that their numbers will turn around significantly in 2014.

Regular rains are a comin’!   The rainy season will be starting which may keep the bite alive in the upper part of the Bay.   On safety:    Keep an eye to the sky and be ready for fast forming storms to pop up starting this month.

As always: Be careful out there!

Neil Taylor
www.strikethreekayakfishing.com
(Cell) 727-692-6345
LivelyBaits@aol.com

May 24 is Kayak Fishing Skool!. As usual, there will be a raffle at the end of the session, brought to you by Strike Three Kayak Fishing sponsors.   To be added to the email database for reports, feature articles and seminar announcements send an email to Livelybaits@aol.com and request to be added to the list.

 

 

 

 

Neil Taylor
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