Winter Slamming
Friday on Tampa Bay could not have been any nicer, slick calm waters with abundant sunshine and temperatures in the mid 70's. Bait was still available on numerous towers off Tampa Bay's eastside but required numerous toss of the net. A negative low tide -0.5' at the start of the trip and a slow incoming tide has us fishing docks, canals and deeper water between islands on Little Cockroach bay. Docks with dark muddy bottom holds heat, we found water 1-2 degrees warmer and the bite was on. We had a winter slam within the first 30 minutes with a 31' snook, 25' redfish and very fat 18' trout. During our 4 hour trip we also found lady fish, some very large, Jacks and snapper. Big surprise of the day was a 3' Cobia that inhaled a white bait. This bruiser was very unhappy, when he got near the boat the cobia shook violently and tossed the hook. Bay waters continue to get clearer and cleaner. We downsized leaders to 25 pound when snook fishing and 15 pound when on the trout flats.