| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Redfish
Posts: 482
 
Location: Tampa Bay | Weather Changes Stir Fish, Appetites
By RAY MARKHAM
Posted October 21, 2008 by The Tampa Tribune
Tampa Bay water temperatures have dropped about 5 degrees the past several days as a cool front eased into the Bay area. That change triggered some positive effects in how fish are feeding and where they are staging during this transitional period for inshore fishing.
Those changes should be for the better, especially once a high-pressure area moves away. This cooler weather moved the Spanish and king mackerel south, and reports from the Hernando/Citrus area indicate that the move is on.
Not only are we finding more Spanish mackerel inside Tampa Bay and on the hard bottom of the lower bay, but we are finding more snook on the flats. This past full moon still had linesiders hanging in the passes and around barrier islands.
The water temperature was still in the mid 80’s, warm for this time of year. With the cool front, a change was due and snook began moving into the backcountry and into open water in the bays from Anna Maria Sound to Cockroach Bay.
That change in venue requires energy for the move, making snook hungry. When fish move, they look for food. New areas where fish relocate must hold food for fish to stay. Finding these spots takes some observation. Look for signs of baitfish flipping, mullet schooling, swirls made by fish swimming, and wading or diving birds.
All are indicators of a food source and should be noted. Next, find spots that have water flow by structure, like an oyster bar, sand bar, mangrove island or point. These points can either be submerged or surface areas that protrude from shore. Either one will be a staging point for fish, and particularly snook.
Ray Markham co-hosts “Florida Sportsman Magazine Radio Live,” Saturdays from 8-9 a.m. on News Radio820 AM, and may be reached for charter at (941) 723-2655.
-----
Tampa Bay Fishing Media RSS Feeds: Recent Articles | Upcoming Events | Recent Threads | |
|
Jump to page : 1
Now viewing page 1 [20 messages per page] | |
|
| ©2007 S & J Enterprises Inc. |
|
Weather Changes - Ray Markham | TBO
