Outdoors

Captain's Corner

Sultry conditions have been the norm for area anglers for days on end. People who intentionally challenge the oppressive conditions are nothing short of brave or slightly masochistic. With water temperatures in the low 90s and the air about the same, fishing in Tampa Bay is a bit challenging.

By DAVE WALKER
Published July 18, 2007

Sultry conditions have been the norm for area anglers for days on end. People who intentionally challenge the oppressive conditions are nothing short of brave or slightly masochistic. With water temperatures in the low 90s and the air about the same, fishing in Tampa Bay is a bit challenging.

What's hot: High water temperatures complicate almost all aspects of fishing this time of year. It exacerbates the problem of the seasonal, smooth brown floating moss. I'm not sure what it is called, but a few names come right to mind. This stuff is notorious for clogging live well intakes and completely wrecking a clean cast net. Not to mention, the stuff sticks to the fishing line, and especially knots, like super glue. Although there are fish that can be caught in the mess, it is almost too frustrating to be worth it.

Tip: A way to avoid most of the floating debris is to fish on various areas of structure or underneath bridges. The shade of a bridge offers heat relief as well as a great area to catch multiple species. Pompano are here and are one of the types of fish that dwell in the shade, but they sometimes require a personal bait collection. Crab hunting is a great activity for kids, or nimble adults. Fiddler crab or pompano jigs will work for the tasty treats. There are also many artificial reefs and some natural hard-bottom areas that are on published charts. A little discovery on the Internet can be useful as well.

Deep-water fishing in Tampa Bay seems to be the most likely scenario for success.

[Last modified July 17, 2007, 23:25:01]