Saturday ended up being a fun day me as my clients had to cancel at the last minute. With so so weather forecasted I wasn't sure what the day would bring. Gathering pinfish for cut bait and small threadfins took less than 10 minutes so I was fishing by 7 am. The water was a very mild 80.2 degrees at sunrise. Clearly a impact of all the recent rains.
I edged up to a mangrove Island then climbed my tower to start the search for Redfish. Before I was comfortable up top I spotted a huge wall of bronze bombers coming right at me in less than 3' of water. I scrambled down the ladder and cast a chunk of cut pinfish. The big push of red neared my bait and within seconds the water exploded! The redfish screamed drag and was all I could handle on light tackle. Twelve pounds at 35" what a way to start the day.
The school was right in front again so I lobbed another chunk of pinfish into the sea of reds. My rod bent deeply as the circle hook connected. Another solid redfish over 30"! I took 4 redfish on 4 casts to start the day.
The tide was falling and the school was now moving off the flats. The stiff ESE breeze made locating the school more challenging as I moved away from the protection of the island. The reds continued to chew even while they were moving. Every year these bronze bombers invade lower Tampa Bay.
Trout, bluefish and ladyfish were also plentiful on deeper grass flats. Small threadfins on a light size 1 wire hook keep my rod bent. The wind forecast the next 48 hours look bleak. Winds to 25 mph are predicted.
Captain Steven Markovich
