Former baseball umpire, Neil Taylor, owner of Capmel.com; Stands up for what's right.

http://www.tampabay.com/sports/outdoors/captains-corner-tips-on-fishing-during-the-tough-summer/2332960

In the dead of summer, everything is tougher. The best bet for fast action, deep jigging a Tampa Bay bridge for pompano and really, a variety of everything in our waters. Advice on tackle and techniques: Medium spinning gear is good. Heavier if you want to battle and beat a cobia. Pompano jigs with teasers are the best choice in lures. I don’t use bait. Bait choices are shrimp, sand fleas and crabs. Using the pompano jig and teaser works great and means “fewer catfish.” Structure fishing, the goal is to get your lure down right next to the concrete pilings. Fish the downcurrent side of the bridge and let the lure reach the bottom. Hopping the lure up and down off the bottom is the best method. I use a yellow jig combined with a pink teaser. Other colors will work too. A good choice is 25-pound fluorocarbon leader. Always take a good pair of pliers to help with getting hooks out of fish. In August, jigging a bridge can be more effective than your normal fishing choices. The fish in the shallows are moodier and the water is the hottest it will be all year.

Neil Taylor charters kayak fishing trips in the Tampa Bay area and can be reached at strikethreekayakfishing.com and (727) 692-6345.

Neil Taylor
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