| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Kingfish
Posts: 1201
 
Location: Tampa Bay | Redfish Starting To Show Up
By FRED EVERSON
Posted December 10, 2008 by The Tampa Tribune
The weather man isn’t always right. When he forecasts that the wind blow 10 to 15 knots, I usually add them together, and that comes closer to the actual conditions. That type of wind is what fishermen have been dealing with for the past few weeks.
On the rare days when it doesn’t blow, the fishing has been OK. Some redfish have finally appeared on the South Shore flats, and most of the fish I’m seeing are near the top of the slot. I caught one Tuesday in front of Sand Key that measured 27 1/2 inches. It ate a chunk of frozen ladyfish rigged on a quarter-ounce jig head. I also hooked two reds earlier this week on low tide using a plastic crab, also rigged on a jig head. I doctor the crab up a bit by sticking a piece of leader into one of the claws and extending it away from the carapace. If you have seen a crab flee in distress, that’s the way they swim, with one claw out. In any event, it seems to work.
I have also been seeing a few cobia on the flats, and a lot of sheepshead. The sheepshead are tough to catch in the shallows, but at low tide you can catch them in the deeper holes on live shrimp. I hook the shrimp through the head, cast it out and let it sit. You have to keep the line tight and set the hook as soon as you feel a hard tap.
A few of the cobia I have seen recently were lying motionless on the bottom. It’s weird behavior, but they seem to be willing to strike a jerk bait when they are in this mode. Most of the fish I’m seeing are just short of the 33-inch limit.
Trout season opens Jan. 1, and there seem to be a quite a few big fish on the flats between Big Pass and Mag’s Hole.
Visit captain Fred Everson’s Web site at Tampabayfishingguide.com for charter info or call (813) 830-8890.
-----
Subscribe to our area fishing articles news feed | |
|
Jump to page : 1
Now viewing page 1 [20 messages per page] | |
|
| ©2007 S & J Enterprises Inc. |
|
Refishg Sightings - Fred Everson | TBO
