The Tampa Bay area sets the stage for some of the best fly and bait fishing of the year on the West coast. The water starts to cool and the tides start to get lower. With shorter days coming Red fish prepare to spawn, gathering in groups along the drop off next to the flats. Tailing Reds is the name of the game from November to March. Fly rod or spinning rod with shrimp or jig tipped with shrimp work the best. If you have never experienced red fish tailing in a foot of water it's worth a trip into the no motor zone at low tide. The fish move up on to the flat on incoming tides to feed on crabs and shrimp, watch for feeding birds on the flat, they let you know where the food is for the reds.
Look as the water cools for Cobia along the edge of the flats moving with Manatees heading to the power plant for winter. Mackerel and blue fish with lady fish mixed in will be in the bay feeding on glass minnows. While fishing last week on a charter with Brian Bergin and Bob McCurry in upper Tampa Bay, we caught 4 keeper Snook and 8 keeper Reds with 3 –20" Trout to top off a Tampa Bay slam on both fly and spin.
The fishing this time of year is sight fishing, push poling and stalking. Trout still can be found on the flat in some areas, but due to last year's red tide, some parts of Tampa Bay lost a large number of trout.
Now is time to start thinking about Tarpon season 2007, book early.
Till next time, Go Fishing. Capt. Dan
