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Hooking Up Anglers Since 2011.
February is here and, as in most years, seatrout are the main attraction. Action has remained strong and catching a limit of 18 to 22 inch fish has been more the rule than the exception on most Tampa Fishing Charters. The weather has been unseasonably warm...always better than unseasonably cold...but prolonged periods of temperatures in the mid seventies tends to scatter out the larger seatrout. With this in mind, most Tampa Fishing Guides know that this generally means more work is involved in catching a limit. The most productive technique when this weather pattern exists is to cover larger areas of water in a methodical fashion. Approach one end of a flat where fish are believed to be. Make long casts into the area and make it a point to present baits to all reachable water. Once this has been accomplished and no fish have been caught, move half a cast length forward and repeat the process until the whole target area has been covered. Assume that fish will bite when they see the bait so, if no fish are located, keep moving. A "good" spot may produce three of four fish. Move to the next spot and repeat the process. Using this disciplined approach, most anglers can put together a decent day under these conditions.
The bait situation has been interesting this winter as well. Tampa Fishing Guides were securing white bait deep into December and, during a warming trend last week, white bait appeared again. Finding whitebait this time of year is huge as trout typically "go stupid" when presented with this menu choice in February and March. Look for dimpling bait schools and have a net on board as some of the areas holding trout right now are areas where this bait will pop up. After 4 or 5 days or warm, it might even make some sense to get up a little early and go to a favorite bait spot...just to check that bait hasn't snuck back in. Trout do love select shrimp but this bait is definitely playing "second fiddle" to whitebait. It can be very frustrating setting up next to another angler who has white bait and watching them out fish you three of four to one. So stay on the look out for the magic bait.
Most redfishing this time of year is done around residential docks although warm weather will push fish up on to a couple of other areas. The first of these is oyster bars. On warm days that have higher tides, look for redfish to push up on these bars to both feed and soak up some of the heat that these bars tend to hold due to their dark color. Oftentimes, fish will sit right on the drop off edge...where the oysters stop but before the grass begins...that yellowish ring that surrounds most bars. Most Tampa Fishing Guides prefer a live shrimp to coerce these reds into biting. Another promising location on warmer days are potholes located near deeper channel edges. When the water is low, find potholes that hold 2 - 3 feet or water and drop baits in to them. You shouldn't have to wait too long if the potholes are populated. Don't expect the 20 or 30 fish days that can happen during the warmer months when schools of fish can be located. Consider an outing successful if two or three nice fish are thr result.
For a change of pace, Sheephead should just be hitting their stride. The most productive Tampa Fishing Charters for this species are usually in late February and March. Present any crustacean...shrimp, crab etc...up against dock poles or rocky areas and wait for the tell tale sheephead "thump". If using a J hook, set the hook quickly. If using a circle hook, reel down immediately and, if weight is felt, set the hook. Redfish and occasionally black drum will frequent this same types of structure so there is an opportunity for a little variety when doing this type of fishing. All three of these species are worth taking home to eat as well. Small black drum have exceptionally white meat and taste very good.
In the blink of an eye, it will be early March and a greater variety of fish will invade St. Joseph's Sound and its surrounding waters. Tampa Fishing for redfish will significantly improve, big trout will remain and eat well and, mid month or so, mackerel, kingfish, bonita, shark and other near shore fish will appear as if from nowhere. So get boat and tackle ready. Spring is right around the corner. Good luck and good fishing,
This Fishing Report was submitted on 6/5/2013 11:10:36 PM by and last updated on 6/5/2013 11:10:36 PM.
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