Tampa Bay Fishing Report February 11, 2009
The cooler temperatures these past couple weeks have slowed fishing all over the bay area, however with the predictions of warmer weather coming; the fishing should begin to get back to its regular wintertime pattern.
Recently, Redfish have been a prime target for my trips. I have been working the negative low tides and have been concentration on grass and mud flats in about 1 to 2 feet of water. As the tide drops and the mud becomes exposed the fish will move off into the adjacent grassy areas. Then, when the tide rises and covers the mud flat the fish are pushing back up onto the mud to keep warm. The mud gets baked in the hot sun and can sometimes be as much as 5 degrees warmer than the surrounding areas. I have been using DOA shadtails in golden bream color rigged on a 1/8th ounce Mission Fishin jigheads in chartreuse. The fish have been anywhere from 17 to 30 inches.
Trout are also still being caught on the local grass flats during the negative tide periods all around Ft. Desoto and the south shore. I have been using live whitebait or a gulp and jighead combo rigged under a popping cork and the fish have been averaging 15 to 20 inches. Look for the Trout to position themselves in the grass facing towards the potholes (sandspots) and the current on the flats. Working the edges of the potholes slowly should produce some consistent catches. Once you catch a couple in an area, anchor up and work that area thoroughly because there should be more around.
Lastly, sheepshead have made a pretty good showing in our local waters and should continue to do so up until the end of march when they spawn. Although it is possible to target Sheepies on the flats, I have been hitting local structure in deeper water. A half shrimp and no. 4 hook rigged with as little weight as possible has been working consistently to put some decent catches in the boat. As the water warms look for the Sheepies to begin to school up in great numbers around all our local bridges and artificial reefs as they begin their spawn.
Although the cold lately has thrown things off, there are warmer temperatures ahead, and the fishing is only going to get better and better. February is upon us and spring is right around the corner. Try some of these areas and tactics and hopefully it will make your time on the water more productive.