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Tough Conditions Hurting Anglers

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By FRED EVERSON

Published: February 4, 2009

Cold weather, lots of wind and some unusual rain have made fishing an unlikely proposition this past week.

Captain Danny Guarino of Ruskin reported slow fishing last weekend for snook and redfish on South Shore Tampa Bay. He said he saw no bait anywhere on the flats, and that water temperature was down to 58 degrees. That will shut the snook bite down hard, and they will remain inactive until it gets back above 65 degrees.

Guarino said he had better luck fishing for sheepshead around the ship channel in front of Port Manatee. Sheepshead spawn this time of year and usually can be found on the artificial reefs at Port Manatee and Bahia Beach. They are a pain to clean because of the prickly spines that protrude from their fins, but the tasty filets are worth the effort.

Captain Larry Malinoski told me he fished in some very uncomfortable conditions, but said the grouper bite was hot. He was trolling jigs on planers.

Water clarity continues to be extremely clear, but the forecast for 20 knots of wind over the next few days will probably roil it up. I saw plenty of redfish on the flats in nice weather a week ago, but it will be hard to get at them for the next four or five days. Hopefully we will return to warmer weather next week, and a little less wind.

Sight fishing for redfish can be very good this time of year on the extreme low tides of the new moon and full moon, but spotting fish requires light winds and bright sunshine.

I am also seeing a few flounder on the flats in front of Sand Key, just south of the mouth of the Little Manatee River. These fish aren't plentiful enough to target, but they will hit the same lures used for trout and redfish.

For charter information visit Fred Everson's Web site, tampabayfishingguide.com, or call him at (813) 830-8890.

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