The Water is Cooling Down, and the Fishing is Heating up!

It’s been a while since some time on the bay was had by me, but I finally got out a couple times and saw positive changes. Some good fishing is happening right now, and will only get better before the winter fronts come through our area.

With a good bit of rain combined with shorter days, and outside temperatures slightly cooler, the water has simmered down to the low to mid 80’s. This definitely affects the bite in a positive way; none of us really embrace the summer heat down here, including the fish. In addition, the bait is getting bigger and more plentiful. A good sign, as this year has been tough for bait. Get out on the water as much as possible-this is a great time to fish.

With that being said, let’s start with my favorite, tarpon. The bruiser tarpon are still in the bay, but this year, in my opinion, the late season fishing has been a little disappointing. They seem to have thinned out a little earlier. Put your time in at the Skyway Bridge and drop offs, maybe a rock pile or two. Use a large spinning combo and soak a pinfish, threadfin or greenback, and be patient.

Second favorite on my list is inshore grouper and snapper. Due to the grouper closure and less fishing pressure, the bite will be good for a couple of months. I prefer fishing in 15 to 20 foot depths near or on the edges of the shipping channels. Using my same tarpon spinning outfits, I usually soak pinfish or dead bait on the bottom, sometimes free lining. Using the tarpon combos are a good choice for me as a nice grouper can school you in a heartbeat. You just may see a cobia swimming by too, so it’s good to be prepared. Toss a pinfish to the cobia on the markers and hold on. The snapper have been actively feeding. Use inshore spinning setups like you would for redfishing, downsize your tackle and drop dead bait, smaller pinfish, greenbacks or shrimp to the bottom. A chum bag doesn’t hurt your chances either. Do this in the exact spots for grouper or fish the reefs. All these fish are very good eating; don’t forget a cooler.

Mackerel are a good bet to save the day on slow outings. Look for bait schools and diving birds; you will usually see bait scattering from these guys. There you go, you’ve found the fish. Upgrade your leader on your set up and throw any live bait or artificials, such as a spoon or baitfish imitation, right into the school. I don’t use artificials much as mackerel have nice sharp teeth; I don’t want to lose tackle. Dropping baits to the bottom also works, fishing bridges and structure. In this instance, a chum bag helps too.

Inshore fishing in Tampa Bay is finally picking up nicely, finally. Cast net some bait or use artificials, and get to work. Usually my wells are blackened out with bait; if the bait is thick, I take advantage of it. Some prefer plugs and jigs. All are producing right now, as Tampa’s inshore species are on the chew. Bust out the light tackle and have some fun.

Redfish is the talk right now. More fish are schooling up every day. Fish the potholes and troughs on lower tides using free lined greenbacks or threadfin, and a pinfish on a cork doesn’t hurt either. Stinky cut ladyfish and threadfin is a killer too. Usually these reds are schooled up with mullet, looking for food. Find some mullet and you should be able to fight a nice red. Some are hooking up roaming the flats sight fishing with arties, which is equally fun. On higher tides fish oyster bars and mangrove lines. I like to toss a pinfish under a cork in the shadow line of the mangroves, with free lined greenbacks and cut bait on a jig thrown in for good measure. The same rules apply for the oyster bars. My preference is mangrove fishing, as pulling a nice red out of the bushes can be tough. Upgrade your leader, and prepare for some frustrating losses and triumphant victories.  

Trout are sill in grass flats of about 4 to 6 feet, but bigger fish are moving further in on the flats and backcountry. Pull a drift tossing standard artificials like a hard or soft plastics, a DOA shrimp under a cork or topwater plugs. Fish troughs and potholes on the flats just like a redfish, using greenbacks, live shrimp and even small pinfish. Trout, like mackerel, can be fun and save a skunking out on the water.

A nice surprise has been the flounder fishing. Flounder have been increasing in numbers and are usually caught in sandy bottom with scattered grass, in about 2 to 4 feet. Normally a by catch for me when fishing inshore, this year they have been more plentiful, and have been targeted. Flounder have been biting well on rockpiles and the reefs as well. Inshore, again, fish the same areas as redfish. Mainly, these fish are caught on live shrimp or greenbacks with a split shot, or by dragging a jig through the sand. Remember, these guys lay flat on the bottom. Flounder tastes so good, the nice ones go right on ice.

Last but not least, the snook. Honestly, targeting snook is not a priority for me. After the freezes and decline in the snook population over the past couple of years, landing or finding nice snook has been tough. This fall, numbers of snook have increased on the flats and they are being caught, but I miss the prior years when catching a nice snook was common in Tampa Bay; less than 10 snook was a bad day. If fishing for the linesiders, focus on the troughs of the inner flats, and passes towards the river mouths and back country. Use freelined greenbacks after locating these fish with some chummers. If you see signs of life, stay put. If not, move out; I usually work a number of passes in the fall as the fish transition to their winter haunts. Artificials will work too, the same for any other inshore species. Nice snook hang out in the mangroves as well, usually caught when redfishing.

Don’t forget to take advantage of the tides and solunar periods when doing any fishing. Moving water is the top priority; a close second is the major and minor feeds. Optimize your conditions on the water with a quick check of this info when heading out, as the moon phases and tides make a big difference.