You would not know it by the outside air temperature (mid 80's) but fall fishing is in full swing. The temperature and fishing were both red hot Friday & Sunday. Friday we were not 100 yards out of my canal and we hit a school of Ladyfish. Instant action on the fish often called the poor mans tarpon for its aerial displays. We moved on quickly and within a ' mile we ran into a school of Jacks, once again instant action but not our targeted species. Again we quickly moved on and ran into a school of Mackerel maybe 5 minutes from where we left the Jack's biting. Almost every cast with a silver Clark's spoon resulted in a Mackerel hook up. Bonita was our goal so we again moved quickly as we had approximately a 25 minute run to the Skyway Bridge. While passing downtown St. Petersburg early in the morning a ray of sunshine highlighted Tropicana field home of the Tampa Bay Rays. Hopefully a good sign for our local baseball heroes.
Slick calm seas made spotting the Bonita crashing baits a snap. Once schools are located I run and gun into the frenzy and get off a few quick casts. Typically the Bonita scattered so I sit and let them come back to us. It will only be a few minutes before they are back on the surface. Friday we found the smaller Clark spoons out fished the larger ones 5 to 1, the bait fish the Bonita were gorging on are very tiny less than an inch long. I worked the larger schools I find them not as skittish. Sunday was more of the same only with lots of boat traffic. We also took a Kingfish mixed in with the Bonita which is always fun. Presentation is simple, cast your spoon into the feeding frenzy count to 3 then retrieve rapidly in one motion. The strike you will never forget, check you drags to ensure they are not set to tight as to pop your line. Mackerel fishing is great for kids, easy with lots of action. As Capt. Billy Nobles of the Reel Animals fishing show says take a Kid Fishing. We changed gears for the afternoon tides, with several nice snook and feisty snapper in the mangroves and sandy potholes around Weedon Island. White bait is still plentiful on the flats in Tampa Bay and with cooler water stay frisky in the live well the entire day.
