The transition from summer to fall has brought on some fantastic flats fishing around the Tampa Bay area. Redfish are in big groups and are chewing if you can locate them. The most popular natural baits are live white bait and fresh cut bait like mullet, pinfish and ladyfish. Top artificials include weedless gold spoons, DOA shrimp and root beer colored “Lil John’s” on a 1/8 ounce jig head. Tarpon Key, Weedon Island and the south shore near Port Manatee are famous redfish spots but the reds can be around most any mangrove shore on high tide and as the tide drops they will move onto adjoining flats.
Speckled trout are all over the grass flats in the Tampa Bay. Drifting a live shrimp under a cork is a good way to locate trout on a grass flat. Frisky white bait is also a top choice bait.
If live bait is not your deal try the DOA Deadly Combination, MirrOdine in green and silver and soft plastic jigs. Trout aren’t too picky.
The shorter days have signaled the snook to start their inshore migration from the beaches and nearby passes. The south shore from the Skyway to the Little Manatee River is a prime snook spot right now as is Pinellas Point and inside of John’s Pass. Hot snook fishing is being reported in Christmas Pass for anglers chumming with white bait.
Live bait is the top choice for snook and nothing beats a live scaled sardine aka: white bait.
For early morning snook excitement try throwing a top water She Dog or MirrOMullet XL around oyster bars and mangrove shore lines. https://www.facebook.com/FishingWithBillMiller?fref=nf