Fishing Report
September 2010 Fishing Forecast
South Shore Tampa Bay
September has arrived and the thunderstorms are still part of our day but will begin to wind down toward the end of the month. However, We will continue with the daily afternoon westerly sea breezes and 90 plus degree temperature.
In early September I take time to make sure all my maintenance on the boat is completed and all my gear is in good order. When I do run trips in September I run early and try to be off the water by 2:00pm. This way I avoid the storms and can get out of the heat.
Tarpon bite will still be good through out the next 6 weeks but most of them will be in the 100 pound class. There will be a lot of Tarpon from Apollo Beach north to port Tampa. I like fishing Tarpon on a Strong outgoing tide using big thread fin hearing. The port Manatee channel is a favorite spot right where it meets the main ship channel.
Spanish Mackerel will also be around through mid to late October or until the water temperature starts to. I fish mackerel with live greenbacks and usually chum with a frozen chum bag or cut up white bait.
The Snook bite will continue to be very slow as the snook population begins its very slow rebound from the winter freeze. The water temperature sits at about 90 in the shallow flats and snook fishing is usually slow anyway. I have limited my snook trips this year and plan to continue that limitation through next spring unless we see a big recovery. The Snook spawn is just about over and by mid to late September snook begin to migrate toward there winter spots. They will begin to stage in the passes and move toward the back country as we get later into September and October. I do hope we had a very good spawn!
The trout was exceptionally good in August and expect it to continue as we move into fall. I like to find grass in the 4-foot plus range and fish the trout with a popping cork. You can fish trout with Shrimp or greenbacks.
We should begin to see redfish in and around the mangrove islands throughout the Southshore area. Look for mangroves with deeper water at there base. Try floating your bait with the tide up under the trees in the shade. I use Greenbacks but shrimp will work but don’t overlook cut lady fish. Some times this works better.
Capt. Danny Guarino
D.R. Guarino Charters
813-956-2010
www.Fishingguidetampabay.com
