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Quick Salinity Change Has Effect

By RAY MARKHAM

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 6, 2008

GO FISHING is a daily look at the area fishing scene through the eyes of local charter boat captains and fishing guides. Today: Ray Markham.

While it seems that we're having an extraordinary amount of rain lately, we're actually getting back to normal. Lack of normal amounts of rainfall during the past year or so made for some changes in fish habits, making fish hold in different areas. The change is good, but the rapid change in salinity has moved some species of fish.

Redfish usually are abundant on the flats in Terra Ceia, but fewer reds have been spotted lately. Docks near the mouth of the Manatee River have been holding some reds. Outgoing tides have produced a plume of fresher water with tannin, a dark brown stain that intercepts Gulf waters where the fresh and salt mix.

Backwater creeks and mosquito ditches show more predominantly on the strong outgoing tide where these dark waters exit the mangroves, pointing out excellent ambush areas for snook. Snook are tolerant of freshwater, and many live in brackish water on a regular basis. When fishing these areas, it is important to use natural or artificial bait resembling the forage in the area. Killifish and glass minnows are the predominant forage I see. Slender artificial baits such as the MirrOlure MirrOminnow and CAL Shad look like those two baitfish.

Between rain showers this past week, I ran out toward Pinellas Point and the Bunces Pass areas to target snook and trout. It wasn't long before we were into speckled trout on Pinellas Point near the Fourth Street boat ramp. Bait schools were abundant on the bars, where trout were feeding. The DOA Deadly Combo was the bait of choice there for trout to 18 inches.

At Bunces Pass, we were slammed by snook to 38 inches while using the CAL Shad.

Ray Markham co-hosts "Florida Sportsman Magazine Radio Live," Saturdays from 8-9 a.m. on WWBA, 1040 AM, and may be reached for charter at (941) 723-2655.

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