Fishing Report
South Shore Tampa Bay Fishing Forecast
April 2012
April is here and spring is in full swing. Still, the big question to me is how well is our snook population doing. By mid-April snook should be on their way to their spawning areas of May and June. I speculated that the winter of 2010 would be remembered by fishermen on the Southshore of Tampa Bay as one of the coldest on record with snook taking the hardest hit. This year we have seen a modest rebound of this prize fish. What is not clear at this point is how plentiful the snook are and how successful was the spawn of 2011. I have had the pleasure of catching some of the biggest snook I have ever brought to the boat this year and It seems that when I hear of snook catches they are all quality size fish over 25 inches long. What seem to be missing are the smaller ones in the size range of 18 to 22 inches. This would be the fish that were part of the post 2010 cold snap spawn. I do think snook are still in a little trouble but on the rebound, albeit slow. Catch reports of some of the smaller size fish would indicate to me that the spawn of 2011 was more successful. My hope is that the 2012 spawn will out preform that of the prior year.
Big Trout will be up on the flats and I expect the bite to be off the wall as it has been in March. I would look for grass beds in the 3 foot ranges. Scaled sardines will be the bait of choice however; a big shrimp hung under a popping cork may work just as well.
The Southsore flats should hold a few Redfish. Look for the red fish in the schools of mullet that roam the area. Pin fish and Scaled Sardines will work best for this prize fish. For some added fun try wade fishing in the late afternoon during a low tide. Check the many pot holes on the flats from the little Manatee Rivers South to the Joe Island area. At low tide the fish will congregate in the deeper pot holes. Try using some of the more popular soft plastic baits that can be found at your local tackle stores. One of my favorites is the DOA Paddle Tail.
Spanish mackerel started moving into the bay back in early March and by Mid-April we should be hearing some good catch reports. Again, scaled sardines will be the bait of choice. I like to free line my baits with an extra-long # 1/0 J-hook.
This time of year I like to mix it up by targeting Redfish and Trout on the flats and Spanish mackerel in open Bay waters. White bait will be my bait of choice.
Capt Danny Guarino a life long resident of the Tampa area and full time fishing guide on Tampa Bay. 813-956-2010 Capt. Danny Guarino co-host the Tampa Fishing Outfitters Radio show on ESPN 1040 Tampa Bay each Sunday Morning.
Capt Danny Guarino
813-956-2010
