What’s happenin’ in the upper stretches of the Bay?

It’s hot.  The temperature, not the action.  The action isn’t bad but it is getting tougher.   Highs in the mid 90s, the only thing keeping the action decent is heavy rains.   The action is better deeper than in the shallows.   I’m more likely to send jigs deep than ply the shallows.  I likely won’t do much flats stuff in the upper Bay until October.

A major grass dieoff in one location has made the fishing impossible.

Black drum are back but will arrive in bigger numbers later this month.   Last year’s average size fish was around 60 pounds with many that were caught in the 80 pound category.   Every time out:  Drum over 70 pounds.   Every time.

Pompano action is good but should be about to explode.   Trips have had mixed success.

Not the best time for the North Bay.   It’s just not.   In Fall, it will get better again.

Would you like to get better at fishing?   Look at The Kayak Fishing Academy.   There will be quarterly sessions, being added to the schedule soon.

Kayak Fishing Skool is coming up on June 28:  8th Avenue Pub in Safety Harbor.

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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