Fishing Reports by Captain Russ Shirley

About The Author:

Company: Salty Fly Charters

Area Reporting: St. Petersburg

Bio: Captain Russ Shirley is a full time, Tampa Bay area fishing guide, fishing fly and light tackle on Florida's West Coast. As owner of Salty Fly Charters (established 1993), he is a native Floridian and has fished Tampa Bay area waters since the age of four. Using his fully-customized, 16' Silver King Signature Series flats boat, Captain Russ specializes in fly fishing and light tackle sport fishing in the bays, backwaters and gulf beaches of Tampa bay. While the majority of his fishing is in the Tampa bay waters of St. Petersburg, particularly the world famous beaches and park lands of Ft. DeSoto, he also extends his range to include Clearwater, Sarasota. Bradenton and Tampa. During tarpon season (in May, June, July) he may also fish the waters of Homosassa, Bayport, Charlotte Harbor and Boca Grande. Captain Russ is also a professional fly tier, supplying his fly fishing clients with custom tied flies. Many of his original flies have been featured in the hardback book (Tying Contemporary Saltwater Flies) and magazine publications, including Saltwater Fly Fishing and Fly Fishing In Saltwaters. He has also been featured in many articles in publication and has many fishing related photos in publication locally and nationally. Captain Russ is sponsored by and on many pro staff programs from these respected companies: G-Loomis, Quantum,  Tibor, 3M - Scientific Angler, St. Croix, Thomas & Thomas, Yamaha, Lowrance, PowerPro and Ocean Waves Sunglasses.