Boca Grande, to Tampa Bay

August 25th, 2008

Red Hot Reds

Sunday we got back on the water for the first time since Fay. The water temperature was 79 when we left the dock around 930 am, pretty amazing to see the big drop.

Bait was a bit of a struggle but after 30 minutes we had a live well full of threadfins. I was looking for clean water and to my surprise the grass flat I set up on was surprisingly clear. Snapper and Trout were both eager and attacked live baits, cut baits and DOA Glo shrimp. After several hours of steady action and with the tide starting to run out strong I moved out to another flat hoping to pick up some white bait hoping to get on the snook. As soon as I lowered the power pole I observed a large V shaped push coming at us. Large redfish eagerly greeted us with quick action. Large Reds all over 30" in a school of 30-40 fish. Explosive action in 1-2' of water. The school would push away then return within minutes making for non stop action. We stayed on the fish till a Thunderstorm made us run for cover.

Stay focused as pop up thunderstorms seemingly develop within a short time and move rapidly creating gusty winds, choppy seas and may produce lighting.