Persistency has been the key to successful fishing over the past week. Fish aren't exactly jumping into the boat.
But that's OK. I like those days when you have to work hard for your fish and you're rewarded with quality.
That's what happened on our most recent outing. Launching out of E.G. Simmons Park along the east side of Tampa Bay near Ruskin, we were greeted by a beautiful sunrise and a few really nice fish.
Topping the string was a 30-inch redfish that missed on one cast, but connected on the next.
We also landed a pair of snook in the 24-inch range, three small spotted seatrout and a hefty sailcat.
Snook are extremely plentiful in the surf and make great sight-fishing targets. Ken Taylor of North Port and I fished recently and had a tough day. We both agreed that we saw more snook and bigger snook than on any outing so far this season. But all we had to show for it was one 24-incher, one spotted seatrout and a nice Spanish mackerel. We spent the last 90 minutes casting at wave after wave of big snook.
We think the outgoing tide was the culprit.
Earlier in the week, I ventured out to one of my favorite freshwater spots, Lake Manatee. No bass this time, even though I cast a popper for 40 minutes prior to sunrise.
I did encounter a lot of nice, hand-sized bluegill. In all, I landed 20 on my 3-weight rod. They all fell for my Myakka Minnow or my Aunt Sara's Homely Daughter No. 10 nymph.
Bass action will begin to heat up at the lake within a month. September brings schooling action, with most of the bass going 2 to 4 pounds.
Snook will continue in the surf for at least another month. This is prime sight-fishing and great on fly rod.
We've also located a good number of juvenile tarpon that should take flies.
