Brian Caudill

The Tampa Bay Times

Fishing has really turned on in the last week with higher overnight temperatures and sunny days. Castnetting bait has become much easier as the water has reached 70° consistently throughout the day. Sardines, which are a staple for most of our gamefish are becoming more and more plentiful on the flats. I mix up store-bought dry chum with menhaden oil and sprinkle it in the water till they begin to flash behind the boat. Then I will throw my cast net and get them in the livewell as soon as possible. Trout, which are the target for most anglers this time of year are starting to become more active and chase the baits. Shrimp are still working, but each year as the water warms the trout begin to transition towards sardines, also called greenbacks. Redfish are coming alive as well. I’m using pinfish that I catch while netting sardines. Although once I get a few consistent bites on the reds, I can switch to just about any bait. The reds are very aggressive when foraging in schools, competing for food. Higher tides have produced the most fish along the mangrove shorelines, but there are plenty mixed in with mullet schools on the falling tide as they come away from the trees. Snook are beginning to make their way out of the deep backcountry, showing up around some of the main shore openings. It shouldn’t be too long before they start to travel westward towards the beaches, stopping along many of the intercoastal islands that stretch from Clearwater to Tarpon Springs.

Fishing has really turned on in the last week with higher overnight temperatures and sunny days. Castnetting bait has become much easier as the water has reached 70° consistently throughout the day. Sardines, which are a staple for most of our gamefish are becoming more and more plentiful on the flats. I mix up store-bought dry chum with menhaden oil and sprinkle it in the water till they begin to flash behind the boat. Then I will throw my cast net and get them in the livewell as soon as possible. Trout, which are the target for most anglers this time of year are starting to become more active and chase the baits. Shrimp are still working, but each year as the water warms the trout begin to transition towards sardines, also called greenbacks. Redfish are coming alive as well. I’m using pinfish that I catch while netting sardines. Although once I get a few consistent bites on the reds, I can switch to just about any bait. The reds are very aggressive when foraging in schools, competing for food. Higher tides have produced the most fish along the mangrove shorelines, but there are plenty mixed in with mullet schools on the falling tide as they come away from the trees. Snook are beginning to make their way out of the deep backcountry, showing up around some of the main shore openings. It shouldn’t be too long before they start to travel westward towards the beaches, stopping along many of the intercoastal islands that stretch from Clearwater to Tarpon Springs.