What to expect while on your next fishing trip to Tampa Bay!
Fall weather is finally here. Up north the temperatures drop, and some are already seeing some snow. Here in Tampa Bay our weather is just starting to reach some of the best of the year. If you are on your way to Tampa Bay our city offers a bunch of amenities which make this area one of the top destinations to visit in the United States. We offer some great weather mixed with great theme parks like Disney World, Busch Gardens, and Adventure Island. We also have some of the top places to dine like Burn Steak House, and Ocean Prime Restaurants. Mix this with some great nightlife in areas like Ybor city or Hyde Park and you will have plenty to do during your time in Tampa Bay. Of course, the main attraction when visiting would have to be the fishing. Tampa Bay estuary is 15 miles wide and 25 miles long and offers some of the best flats fishing in the state. With its beautiful mangroves lining the city lines makes for a unique great place to stay. Busy but peaceful would be best describes when thinking about Tampa Bay. If you are coming to the area we hope you consider booking a fishing trip with Steady Action Fishing Charters while here in the area. Below is a up to date fishing forecast for your next Tampa fishing charters….
Snook fishing starts to pick up as fish ease towards the river mouths and get ready to invade the pristine flats and backcountry of Tampa Bay. The key to catching Snook is having live Sardines. It can be a challenge but can be found in deeper water around the towers and markers. Using a big heavy net is key as water is gin clear and deep. The Humpback 12 foot extra heavy will get the job done on those hard to get bait days. Targeting potholes on the flats is an excellent start and is a proven way to catch Snook this month. Try and fish on the warmer days and starting a little later will also help when targeting Snook.
Trout fishing is also great this time of year as the big girls move out on the outer flats to spawn. Trout seem to like both live bait and artificial baits, you can’t go wrong with a Cajun Thunder and a live select sized shrimp. Another great option is a Z Man minnowZ or PladdlerZ on a ¼ once Jig head pearl white in color. Trout this time of year also move shallow. Potholes surrounding shallow areas are great places to target for those gator. Drifting the flats and fan casting an area is a proven way to both catch fish and cover area.
Most redfish are coming out of the deeper creeks and rivers this time of year. You will find a mix of small rat Reds mixed in with a few lunker sized fish. Bait of choice would be live shrimp, smaller greenbacks, or cut bait. Hook size is important this time of year as water is very clear. I typically use a 1/0 or #1 Daiichi wide gap circle hook matched with 25 Ohero fluorocarbon leader.
Shallow water Grouper fishing in the bay is another hidden gem this time of year as well. Fishing the edges and rock piles in the bay will surprise you. Tampa Bay has hundreds of rock piles,ledges,wrecks and reefs that all are productive one time or another. This can be a bit challenging but with a little time on the water and the use of modern technology you will find the hill a little easier to overcome. I have become a better reef and wreck fisherman simply due to the use of my Simrad Evo 3 and its Structure Scan and chirp technology. Mix this with Rhodan Marine System GPS anchor and you will be able to find spots fast and cover more spots in a day. You will also find a bunch of other fish while fishing these areas. Don’t be surprised to pull up Mackerel, Mangrove Snapper, Sheephead and many others.
Captain Jason Prieto is a native resident of Tampa and has fished Tampa Bay and its surrounding waters for the past 20 years. He is the owner and operator of Steady Action Fishing Charters which is based out of lower Tampa Bay. To book a charter, you can reach him at 813-727-9890 or www.steadyactionfishingcharters.com. If you would like to catch him on the internet tune into Tampa Fishing Outfitters Fishing Show On Facebook live and You tube from 6 to 7Pm every Wednesday evening.
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