Warmer temperatures in Tampa Bay make for some awesome fishing!

Inshore fishing in Tampa Bay has been awesome!

Fishing on the South Shore of Tampa Bay has been nothing less than stellar. Just about every trip has produced multiple species, from flounder on the flats to big Redfish schooled in the backcountry. The fall really has not hit us as we set record high temperatures. This has kept most fish out of their normal spots and changed our normal approach. Its time to book a charter and fish Tampa Bay.

Water temperature is dropping and fishing is great

Typically this time of year water is dropping into the lower 70s and we start to fish around the river mouths as fish stage around these areas to get ready for winter. This has not been the case as we have recorded record high temperatures. This has kept most fish out on the flats and also has bait still plentiful on the flats. This is not a bad thing you just have to make the correct adjustments to catch fish. As a result of warmer temperatures all species seem to be very active when using whitebait.

Trout fishing in Tampa Florida is great!

Trout has to be the surprise as they have invaded the deeper canals. Looking at the temperatures on my sonar I would not expect to catch trout on any size but as of late we have been catching a ton of nice Trout. Both live bait and artificial will produce fish with the Miro lure Lil Jon being a top producer. Match this with a ¼ ounce Jig Head and you will be filling the cooler with nice fish. A great technique is a live Greenback tied to a Cajun Thunder float. Use the good ole Popping technique and you will have Trout at the end of your line before you know it.

Catching live bait is key to catching fish!

If you are a live bait guy you should still keep your Black Pearl ¼ inch cast net on the boat as bait is still running on the smaller side. Look for bait to move deeper as cold fronts come through but as for now it’s on just about every flat on the South Shore of Tampa Bay . Since bait is smaller I would stay with the #1 Daiichi circle for hook size. Water is clearing up so using the 25lb leader will work best when fishing on the flats. Live bait in Tampa Bay is come of the most productive ways to catch fish.

Redfish is on fire right now!

Redfish are still hanging around in Tampa Bay on the flats in good numbers. As mentioned above water is a bit cleaner than last month so using a quiet stealthy approach is a must. Fishing the high tides that fall mid day this month will be your best chance to produce good numbers on redfish. A free lined Shrimp will be a great option as they love crustaceans this time of year. The key is to adjust your fishing style based on what your water temperature is on your sonar. This will tell you what areas to fish and where to find fish. Eventually we will start seeing winter and this will move these fish to their normal winter homes. Until then get out on the flats and enjoy the Florida heat… Tight lines!!

How to book a charter

If you are looking to book a inshore fishing charter for the Tampa Bay area it really an easy process. Just got to our website right here and click the book online tab. It will take you to the bookings page. Pick the date of choice and you are ready for a great day on the water!