Tampa Bay’s South Shore

August 6, 2008

Stuck in the Doldrums

Warm water and hot weather combined to keep the mid day fishing action to a minimum this week. The best fishing was on the strong falling tides of late afternoon, but there was also some activity along the north shoreline of the Little Manatee River at sunrise.

I also saw some of the biggest snook I have ever seen along the sea wall in front of my house, but they would not touch anything I threw at them in the morning. I did have several bumps on a jig head rigged with a plastic mullet – probably little snook. My theory is that the snook are gathered here to spawn in the swift current of the spring tide of the new moon.

We had fast falling late afternoon tides on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday – a good snook tide – but by the threat of rain and thunderstorms precluded any attempt to get at them. By the time it stopped raining, the tide was so low I couldn't get my skiff off the lift.

Capt. Larry Malinoski of Ruskin emailed me with a report on Thursday. He said the offshore bite was very slow, but that the snapper bite inside the bay was still hot. He also told me he saw lots of redfish brought in at O'Neill's Marina on the other side of the bay. I can only hope some of those fish come our way soon. I haven't caught a redfish in weeks.

Water temperature remains in the low 90's so don't expect the bite to light up anytime soon. Best bet to fish the flats will continue to be there around sunrise and sunset and give it a rest in the middle of the day.

Join Capt. Fred for an evening of fishing instruction at Skipper's Smokehouse Inshore Fishing School on Tuesday night August 12. Cost for the 3 hour class is $25 and includes a copy of the captain's latest book -- Fish the Flats. Wives, girlfriends, or significant others get in free. Class begins at 7:00 PM. Call 813 830 8890 for more information.