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Cold Fronts Present A Challenge

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 19, 2008

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

Trying to figure out the best times to fish between these cascading cold fronts requires careful calculations. Fishing right after a front can be a fruitless exercise - especially after skies have cleared and a high pressure system prevails. A good rule of thumb is to plan your outings to coincide with an approaching weather system. That's when most species tend to feed.

As for the most likely target species this time of year, captain Brent Gaskill recommends fishing for trout and redfish. "Those are cold-tolerant fish and will still bite through changing weather patterns."

He said artificials will catch both when worked slowly across the bottom. "Live shrimp are also a good bet this time of year, as most fish have keyed on the small crustaceans. Sheepshead and snapper will also pick up your offering, providing for a nice mixed catch."

The fluctuating weather patterns haven't affected the Spanish mackerel bite at the Sunshine Skyway. Piers manager Mike Tyson reports good numbers of larger Spanish mackerel still available there, along with grouper, sheepshead and silver trout.

Terrell Salerno had a surprise fishing the Gandy Bridge this week. In addition to catching some small trout and mangrove snapper, he said that there were big schools of live squid there. Of course, fresh live squid are not only great bait, but when well prepared, make for fine dinner fare.

Hear "The Captain Mel Show" Saturdays from 6-9 a.m. on WFLA, 970 AM. Visit "Fishing Florida OnLine Magazine" at www.capmel.com.

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