The Sheepshead migration / spawn is in full swing in Tampa Bay.
The full moon kicked it off and it's gonna be very good the next two to three weeks.
So, if you like to tug on some convicts and at the same time put some good eats in the fridge, then this is the time to do so.
Sheepshead is very tasty both on the grill and fried, mix it up with rice and beans, and you can't go wrong.
Next on the menu is Mangrove Snapper; they too have been pretty plentiful on some of my honey holes. I've not got into the big ones, but I have been getting keepers from 14-16 inches. Get a few of those in the ice chest and you'll have a nice snapper sandwich for sure.
Now let's talk Redfish and Snook; with the warmer than normal winter we've had, the redfish bite in Tampa Bay has been pretty good. Snook has also been good; you just have to know where to look for both species. Live bait has been the ticket for reds and snook, but don't fret, if you like tossing artificials, you'll still get a few, but the better bite has been on white bait. Depths of the fish have ranged from 2 to 4 ft of water. Watch the tides and let the drag sing.
Lastly, let's talk Specks; the trout bite has been excellent in the rivers in upper and lower Tampa Bay. I've done well on ¼ oz jig heads matched up with a Matrix Shad in either Lemon Head or Kamikaze. This bait is from Louisiana, and I don't think they've seen it because they fall for it every time.
Almost forgot to talk about spring break in Tampa and Clearwater Beach. If you're heading down this way and want to have a fun outing, look me up for some light tackle inshore fishing. I fish both Tampa Bay and the St. Joseph Sound next to Clearwater Beach. If you're on Clearwater Beach, you're only 10 minutes from where I launch, and you're fishing after a short boat ride to the flats.
I encourage you to take a look at my website and if I'm what your looking for, I would be happy to talk about my Tampa Bay or Clearwater Inshore Fishing Charters.
Tight Lines…
Capt. John Rivers.
www.captainjohnrivers.com
727-313-1781