Redfish action has heated up in Tampa Bay. Large schools of reds are marauding the flats, creek mouths and almost every oyster bar. Gold spoons fished slowly or live bait under a float reward a patient angler with plenty of fish.
These fish are on the move and can be found most easily on flats with a lot of life. If there are no mullet around, there will be few redfish. Keep looking until you find mullet, and your chances of scoring increase dramatically. Any leftover bait or dead bait can be thrown over as chum. Redfish are attracted to the scent and tend to hang around chum.
Gold spoons should be rigged with a swivel, because line twist can be a problem. The price for quality swivels is justified. Live shrimp, greenbacks and small pinfish work well beneath a float adjusted to keep the bait near the bottom. Try around the edges of oyster mounds and close to mangroves.
- Dave Walker charters out of Tampa. Call 813 310-6531 or e-mail at www.snookfish.com
