The Tampa Bay Times
A few tropical storms have skated by our coast recently. Strong winds from the west have really churned up the beach. Fishing this week has been predominantly inside the barrier islands, towards the main shore in north Pinellas, but it has been very productive. Redfish have made a presence and are cooperating on the incoming tides. Sardines are scattered along the flats, and the redfish are chasing them as well as trout, ladyfish, and jacks. As the water pushes into the mangroves, so do the fish. Cut pieces of pinfish have been working to catch redfish when skipped into the mangrove overhangs. Methodically working the shoreline where mullet schools are present will pay off. The majority of fish have been in the lower slot range, with only a few near the upper slot or over slot. Snook fishing has been a little slow this week. High winds and dirty water around the beaches have forced many of the fish to transition towards the main shore. There aren’t high numbers of snook concentrated in any single area yet, but as they finish transitioning, we should see higher numbers along the creek mouths and shorelines to the east. Trout are also on the move. Deeper waters are still producing, but the water has to be clean. Artificial baits can produce several hook ups. I’ve been targeting water 6 to 8 feet deep, moving the lure slowly near the grassy bottom. The recent rains and shorter days have cooled the water temperatures slightly. The next few weeks should be great fishing as fall patterns continue to fall into place.
- Captains Corner - March 23, 2024
- Brian Caudill - March 4, 2024
- Brian Caudill - December 5, 2023
