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Radical Change Affects Fish

The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 9, 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.

Winter fishing has its ups and downs. Water temperatures in many areas of lower Tampa and Terra Ceia bays dropped into the low 50s last week. But the lowest reading I found showed 49 degrees on my thermometer. Coming from a water temperature of 74 degrees for a high on New Year's Eve, that's a radical drop, which shut down the bite for several days.

By Saturday, water temperatures in the morning were still in the upper 50s, but reached the low 60s by late afternoon. I left about 2 p.m. to do some scouting and to check the freeze damage. With DOA Shrimp and CAL Jigs with shad tails, I headed for area canals with good depth and dark bottoms. Over the course of a couple of hours I managed to catch one very cold-stressed jack crevalle on a shad tail.

But judging from the appearance of this jack and a number of other fish in the canals that were barely surviving, I must have snagged the fish in the mouth. The "fight" it put up was not even respectable for a 6-ounce bluegill. I also caught a snook on the shad tail plus 11 more linesiders on a DOA Shrimp, both in a new night glow/gold holographic glitter color.

I also put a nice flounder in the boat with the CAL Shad. The new color combination of the glow and gold glitter worked as well as anything could, given the circumstances.

While working the canals, I noticed numerous dead jack crevalle, tilapia, a few finger mullet, and some mojarra. I was surprised to not find snook amongst the deceased, because I had heard several reports of anglers finding dead snook. These warm days should return appetites to normal.

Ray Markham co-hosts

"Florida Sportsman Magazine Radio Live," Saturdays from

8-9 a.m. on WWBA, 1040 AM, and can be reached for charter at (941) 723-2655.

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