Fishing Reports

OFFSHORE

Our first real cold front blew in at the beginning of the week, having an affect on our fishing. Spanish and king mackerels that had been active on nearshore artificial reefs off Pinellas and Manatee counties moved offshore in the blow on Sunday, and the dropping temperatures for the following days drove them as well as other species into deeper water.

Grouper fishing that showed some good action from Pasco south in water depths less that 50-feet slowed. Gags began moving out beyond the 50-foot mark, but that move is more gradual than the pelagics. With deeper water, temperatures are slower to change, so grouper fishing will likely rebound with the warming temps seen toward the end of the week.

Another front is due in for the weekend with more wind, but the temperatures will remain mild. By Sunday, winds are predicted to be easterly, helping to flatten seas and clean nearshore waters. If so, look for the possibility of some Spanish mackerel or kings to be back.

INSHORE

Inshore snook fishing took a nose dive for a few days following last Sunday’s blow. Water temperatures dropped considerably, moving snook to deep water in residential canals, rivers, and creeks. The closed fishery for snook this time of year is for protection of the species when water temperatures get very cold. They get so lethargic in cold weather that it’s possible to literally pick up stunned fish with a dip net, thus the closure making possession illegal.

Redfish are loving this cooler weather. Reds moved around on the flats and sought deeper channels, potholes, and boat docks in rivers and canals, but they continued to hit jigs and live shrimp. Trout did much the same, and the warming trend for the weekend should bring fish back out on to the flats.

Cobia have begun to show inside Tampa Bay. As water temps fall, look for fish to begin showing close to warm water outfalls from the power plants. Presently they’re being spotted around channel and range markers. Grouper have been chewing in the Egmont Ship’s Channel and inside Tampa Bay in the channel just inside the Skyway Bridge. Mann’s Stretch 25 and 30 baits trolled on 50-to 80-pound Power Pro are taking gags to 15-pounds.