Captain’s Corner: Jim Lemke

The Tampa Bay Times

Capt Jim Lemke Times Correspondent

With the cold fronts slowing down in cognition with the low Temperatures at night in the Tampa bay area means spring is getting closer. It also means warming water temps are around the corner with the water just under 70 has the bite fired up inshore and nearshore.

The Snook fishing has been good with these warmer temperature at night. We have been finding them around the major river mouths, the mouth of the creeks, and residential docks. A lot of smaller snook along with a few over slot snook mix in. The Hogfish fishing is in its prime right now if you can get out with the big fan in the sky turned on this month. The way I like to fish for them is a knocker rig with a 10 to 15 foot leader to a small circle hook and a shrimp.

The Redfishing is getting better on the flats on the lower tides. I look for mullet schools on the flats and use your trolling motor to get in position and setup. If you just chase them, they will not calm down and no buddy will catch them. The best baits are dead baits like Sardines or pinfish also cut ladyfish or mullet work great on the bottom.

Some schools of Mackerel are starting to show up in the bay and off the beaches when the wind isn’t blowing. The Snapper and Sheephead are still strong around the artificial reefs and rock piles around the bay.

Capt Jim Lemke charters out of Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater and can be reached at (813) 917-4989 and at captjimlemke@gmail.com