Monday 21, 2011 Late report. Pics

[blacktip]

Hi guys. A short report for you.

Bait was plentiful all day, running near the top of the water. In the mix was thread fins and greenbacks (didn't see any Spanish sardines). The bait was large and in charge, 4-7 inch.

Didn't bother bringing any grouper gear on this trip. took two spinning rods, one set up for free lining (2' 30lb leader, black swivel, 1/0 med shank hook), and one with a got cha plug (large size, silver with orange head)

Fished for macks all day, the bite was really on as the sun was rising, slacked off for a few hours mid day. Then picked up again a few hours before the sun went down.

Got cha plugs were working well, but most of the fish were small (11"- 14") So I sent out some 2 " chunks with the outgoing tide. Fish seemed to like that better this trip.

Took home 10 macks in the 16-20 inch range, caught in the area of 20-25. A few pics below. Having a fish fry at my cousins tomorrow. Water temp is going up, and the fish are biting. Get out there!

SIDE NOTE: Saw a few nice size tarpon rolling.

i81.photobucket.com/albums/j204/blacktip_2006/130.jpg
i81.photobucket.com/albums/j204/blacktip_2006/129-1.jpg
i81.photobucket.com/albums/j204/blacktip_2006/003-4.jpg
i81.photobucket.com/albums/j204/blacktip_2006/121.jpg

[BigDawg71]

nice!

[blacktip]

Forgot to add this. SSP Report

[dadflyer]

blacktip:
Forgot to add this. SSP Report

Yeah , I realized it was SSP when I saw the last photo, since that is where most of the causeway curve happens.

Thanks ,.. it was a good report.
Did you notice the bite fall off during slack tide ??
It seems to me that during full slack and full tide current , the bite drops off ; maybe its just me .. ?

Dadflyer

[blacktip]

Yeah Dadflyer I did. I normally do best a hour before-hour after the tide changes.

[grouperscooper]

Good report blacktip!!!

Dadflyer......your on the right track with your thinkin.Slack tide the bite starts to shut down....east coast west coast etc.At a full moving tide considering it is movin pretty good things will also slow or even shut down.Water movement is a big key in the fish actively feeding.Ya gotta get the "sweet spot" so to say.

I like it after a dead to no tide....things will really pick up once water starts moving.The fish wait on the tides just like us.

[dadflyer]

grouperscooper and blacktip

Ya know , most saltwater fishing locations ( passes , ICW, harbors, inlets ,etc.,..) are thought to best fished on the tidal change , throughout the change .
Tampa Bay , given its large surface size and limited estuary outflows , seems to really flush quite a volume of water. And so it seems to me that fishing near the skyway is best done just before and after slackwater ; that once the tide gets moving , the shear volume and force of the water makes fishing , and holding bottom , more difficult .

I guess what I am saying is because of its size and volume , the bay violates the general rule of saltwater fishing : "fish through the tidal flow" . ? Is that true ?

Dadflyer

[grouperscooper]

I think the main thing is the tidal stages on the west coast in general.I grew up with 4 tides a day...2 in..2 out.The gulf isn't like that at all which is why i feel there is so much more hit-n-miss fishing on the west side,east side is easier to guesstimate i guess i'm sayin.When i grew up and a certain species was in and running following the tide chart usually led to success.I can't remember exactly why the tidal stage is so strange on the gulf,have ta Google again.Coulda been something to do with the moon and just the placement of the gulf on this place we call earff.

I see where your comin from but i don't know...i've had kick ass nights out there on the ssp free linin big baits and the gags were on fire when the tide was RIPPIN.Done well when it wasn't quite so strong either.

[snookmook]

Mar 22, 2011 20:41:44 GMT -5 blacktip said:

Took home 10 macks in the 16-20 inch range, caught in the area of 20-25.

I got a simple question. What does "caught in the area of 20-25" mean? Are those piling numbers out there at the SSP?

[blacktip]

Means I caught 20-25 fish total. Fish were taken near the Y.

[dadflyer]

blacktip:
Means I caught 20-25 fish total. Fish were taken near the Y.

Thanks for the clarification. I thought the day before yesterday I saw piling #25 on the North pier, but that was after a full day of fishing and I wasn't wearing my glasses.

Dadflyer

[blacktip]

Yeah deff not as I was on the SSP. BUt there may be marking #25 on the NP. I dont visit it much due to the crowd, crabbers, and shortage on parking near the end.

Will be heading out for a grouper trip SSP, April 7th. Anyone going?

Tight Lines