The Fishing Heats Up

Well, since I’m not much of an offshore fisherman, and the fact that the gag grouper are closed in Federal waters, the main thing on my mind is the negative low tide fishing we enjoy in the Tampa winters.

With the exception of some straggler snook that have been found in a few spots, the flounder, redfish and trout are abundant, and are en fuego. This fact is keeping many anglers in our shallow waters of the bay until water temperatures warm up, and our big tarpon, drum and grouper are back in town and eating.

Since the weekends are my and many others main time to fish, somebody who has the fish patterned on a weekly basis has more information than myself. That’s basically why I stay in touch with Jason stock. A quick call or email and I have all the information that I need to put up a quick report.

Not much has changed since his last call. Big redfish, yellow mouth trout and “dinner plate” sized flounder are being hooked from Tampa Bay to Venice by skiff, kayak, and on foot. Basically the Captain is sticking with what has been working. Why change? The “flutter” technique (as he calls it) with DOA Cal paddle tail soft plastics on quarter ounce DOA jig heads have been producing these fish. The color of choice is Golden Bream, but I have found that when the fish are biting, just about anything will do; Loves Lures tandem combos, DOA Shrimp with or without a popping cork, GULP! Scented baits-like I said, just about anything. Tailor the lure to your fishing by trying different colors of lures and jig heads, as well as weights. Usually something will entice a bite, eventually.

With my fishing, the above mentioned flutter technique comes into play as well, with about the same set up. A paddle tail or Mirrolure scented jerk bait on a quarter ounce jig head is slowly, and I mean very slowly bounced up and down a couple of times creating a cloud of sand and mud, then a very slow drag across the bottom is next, hence, the "flutter" technique.

Of course, fan casting numerous times helps locate the fish. This basic method has been catching reds, trout and flounder, and what I have found is the flounder have been hitting the lure on the slow drag after bouncing the jig a few times. Barely feeling a hit, it’s tough to tell they are hooked. Slowly pulling back and feeling tension, I always set the hook just in case, and have been bringing in nice flounder, as is Captain Jason.