Captain’s Corner: Tyson Wallerstein

The Tampa Bay Times

The snook and redfish bite has been excellent through ought Tampa Bay. Seventy-degree water first thing in the morning has had the fish willing to chew the entire day. Lower tidal stages will have the fish pushed out away from the mangroves making them much easier to access. When the tide is in, later in the day look for the snook to be exiting the many small creeks they tend to winter in.  

Redfish have been schooling in groups from 10 fish if they’re the great big ones and 15 to 30 fish if they’re the mid slot sized fish. Mullet schools are making a comeback in the northern bay and if you find them you will find some redfish.  

Free-lining live pilchards has been the ticket for some hot action with the snook and redfish. Locating the oil rich baits that these predator fish love has been the tricky part. Not unusual for the time of year, the bait seems to be constantly on the move. Some days it can be found holding around bridge pilings and at other times out from the bridges in deep water where it can be located by diving pelicans and marked on your bottom machine.  

Calm days have provided good conditions for hunting down cobia. Search the outer flats in 3 to 4 feet of water, looking for the schools of stingrays that seem to be everywhere. Cast soft-plastic eel imitations and top-water plugs to grab the fishes’ attention.  

Capt. Tyson Wallerstein
Flats Monster Inshore Fishing
(727) 692-5868
capt.tyson@hotmail.com
www.Flatsmonster.com