This has been one of the hardest weeks of fishing I can remember. We have had a heavy dose of stormy weather, bait spawn and red tide. Large baits were hard to find, areas that held good numbers of fish were infected with red tide or stained water from all the rain.
The storms were dangerous. Strong winds, blinding rains and lightning made boat navigation difficult. Visibility was less than 30 feet in some areas. The lightning was so close there was no time between the flash and the thunder. A fish is not worth putting your life in danger. I will think more than twice before heading into areas where the radar shows storm lines colored orange and red.
Bait schools are changing on a daily basis. Areas that held 3- to 4-inch whitebait on a Monday might have 1-inch juveniles on Thursday. A quarter-inch mesh keeps baits from getting stuck in the net.
Red tide has pushed most fish off the beach and into passes and bays. Snook are hanging in the docks that lead to a pass. Redfish are roaming mangrove shorelines during larger high tides. The best trout action has been in 4 to 5 feet of water. Target snook and trout during a strong tide movement. Reds are feeding at the end of the incoming. This week's action will increase during afternoon outgoing tides.
- Doug Hemmer charters out of St. Petersburg. Call (727) 347-1389.
