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November is one of the best months to target a large variety of inshore and offshore fish. Snook, redfish, cobia, kingfish and grouper can be found inside Tampa Bay. Water temperatures and tides will dictate when and where to fish for each species.
Cobia will stay in the area until late November to early December. A reliable area to search: the channel markers, tripods and pilings inside the Sunshine Skyway Bridge to the Courtney Campbell causeway.
The best area to find cobia is the power plantsespecially when a cold front moves through and quickly drops the water temperature more than five degrees.
Most anglers use one of two methods to catch cobia in this area. The first is to anchor just outside the plant and deploy a frozen chum block. Rig a few rods with corked pinfish, grunts or threadfins. The smell of the chum will draw rays close to the boat, and the cobia like to hang with the rays. The best water temperature for large Tampa Bay grouper is 65-70. Most can be found on the edges of the ship channel. We target the ledges by trolling large plugs or jigs from Egmont Key to the Gandy Bridge.
You'll find kingfish in the same area as grouper. Slow troll a ladyfish or a blue runner on a surface rod and a downrigger. Don't look for a lot of strikes, but when you do get one, it will be a big king.
Most of the snook and redfish have moved into the upper parts of Tampa Bay. Look for the best action on the west side of the bay, start at Weedon Island and head north.
- Doug Hemmer charters out of St. Petersburg. Call (727) 347-1389.