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Fishing in lower Tampa Bay is starting to improve. Fish that left the area when the Red Tide moved through slowly are starting to return. Redfish have been cruising the flats during the incoming tide. Free-lining live shrimp will draw the most strikes. Some days they don't appear and when they do, you can expect the school to be spooked.
Making long cast on ultra-light tackle will help keep the school from running off the flats. A full spool of 4- to 6-pound line and a 10- to 15-pound leader rigged with a large shrimp hooked through the tail should do the trick. Remember to be patient; most redfish trips this time of the year produce very little.
Trout fishing has gained steam. Drifting the edges of the flats while fan casting artificial lures is the best way to locate a few fish. Ladyfish are a welcome sight. These hard-fighting fish that jump around the boat are fun when the trout bite is slow. Be sure to check the leader just above the jig after catching a few ladyfish. Most of the jigs will be lost because of the leader fray.
Areas north of Clearwater and south of Anna Maria still produce the best action. If the Red Tide leaves before the snook and redfish move out of the upper bay, look for the action in the lower bay to return to normal.
- Doug Hemmer charters out of St. Petersburg. Call (727) 347-1389.