The crush of winter has finally happened.   A mild “winter” to this point, things are going to be a little more of a battle for a few days.   The great news for Upper Bay enthusiasts, this weather will push many more fish into the upper stretches of the Bay.    The creeks and deepest troughs will be where the best fishing will be.

Trout, redfish and even drum and sheepshead will be great targets.    With the cooling of the water, this may be an exceptional time to take along some fresh shrimp.

For using lures, slow down the retrieve to keep hooking up.   If you do not make that adjustment, you may not catch any fish.

This is the time to utilize this part of the Bay.   When it gets hot again, three months from now, opportunities will diminish.

The Captain Mel Classic is on May 18   Upper Tampa Bay is part of the fishing zone.   All details are on the home page under the tab “Captain Mel Classic”.  It will be a fun event, benefitting the Humane Society of Tampa Bay.

Neil Taylor
Latest posts by Neil Taylor (see all)