Typically Captains are focused on the target of the day but lately the bigger challenge has been gathering the right bait. I cant recall a period with such slim pickings.
Today I ran up into Tampa Bay as the day prior as the action at Ft. Desoto was less than stellar. The vast deep grass flats surrounding Port Manatee had non stop trout and ladyfish action. Cut bait, live bait, silver spoons it didn't matter as we got hits on just about every cast. Focus in deeper, cooler water 6-10'.
As the tide began to come in we moved into local Mangrove Islands. Using cut pinfish on a 2/0 circle hook we quickly starting taking redfish from 20-23". The violent headshakes would make you think the fish would have been larger. We also had trout and flounder in the same place. After 45 minutes the bite abruptly stopped.
One last stop on another deep grass flats produced more small trout and Bonnet Head sharks. Another fun day done on Lower Tampa Bay.
Capt. Steven Markovich
