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Dying Wind Brings Back Bite

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 18, 2008

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

The wind finally died down to where it was manageable in the middle of the week, and the fishing was pretty good.

I had my canoe out early one morning in front of Sand Key, just south of the Little Manatee River, and I saw quite a few snook and redfish, but they didn't want anything I threw at them. I attribute that to a lazy tide that didn't move much water. The slow-moving tides will change this week as we approach the full moon on Wednesday.

I crossed the Bay a few days ago with James Johnigan of Plant City, and we caught some keeper-sized trout off Pinellas Point. We also saw several schools of mackerel thrashing bait on the surface, so I rigged two chrome spoons on 60-pound monofilament leaders. I had identical rods rigged with the same lures. One rod caught three fish, while the other never got a bump despite fish boiling all around the boat.

When mackerel are feeding, they can become single-minded about what they will eat. When mackerel are eating glass minnows, you need to present something similar in size or shape - a small streamer fly, a 1/16th-ounce diamond jig or perhaps a pompano jig.

The wind was blowing again on Friday when I fished with captain Tom Rinehart. We tried Little Cockroach Bay, fishing cut bait for redfish, but we didn't get a bite. Then we went all the way to Joe Island and had similar results.

Visit Fred Everson's Web site at tampabayfishingguide.com

for charter information or call (813) 830-8890.

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