The winds that followed heavy rains are a distant memory on departed Tampa Bay. The forecast for the next 5 days looks very encouraging. Combine good early morning hides tides, cooler water temperatures and improved water clarity means its back to game on!
Captain Jim Fesperman of Hook Setting Charters scored big Thursday. Captain Jim found monster redfish to 40"s. Flats adjacent to Ft. Desoto on Lower Tampa Bay is red hot with over the slot redfish schools. Cut white baits fly lined on circle hooks did the trick.
September ushers in big redfish to lower Tampa Bay. Captain Steven will be chumming with white baits to get the reds fired up then free line or use a small float to get your bait in position. Early to mid morning look for the bronze bombers up against the mangroves and oyster bars. Cut mullet, pinfish or threadfins will also do the job.
Look for trout, mackerel, sharks and jacks to be chewing along the deeper flats 4-10'. Deploy a chum bag for nonstop mackerel and shark action. Be patient as it takes a few minutes to get a good slick working. Beefed up leaders 40-50 pound with long shank hooks are critical to slow cutoffs. Watch for frays after every fish and retie as needed.
Be sure and start your trip with a live well full of white baits which you can cast net on local flats. Use caution as to not over stress your baits by filling the live well with too many. Warm water means less oxygen which kills baits quickly.
Captain Steven Markovich
www.onthemarkcharters.com
