Friday and Saturday NSP and a question

[thundergills]

Hello all.

Black friday out from 3pm to 8 pm... lots of people. Lots of people fishing for grouper where I was, Pig fish or cut bait used by all... about 8 lines. Nothing.

I got several key west grunts, one about 7 or 8 inches. A striped grunt, small lanes and pig fish.

Saturday not much better, but fish were coming over the rails saw Spanish and lady fish. Pig fish galore. Also the incoming tide was faster than I expected and it was heavy with weeds on the bottom. I was taking my 4 oz weight pushing the weeds around the line and moving it. Very frustrating. Had to wait for the tide to slack to drop anything.

I managed one lady and piggies.

The pig fish might be spawning based on hooking them and then they "pee"... those must be the males...lol.

Oddly no pinfish???

So here is my question... do you folks believe in the Solunar charts? Yesterday should have been better than today and I hit the second major feeding time on both days. I can't believe that there are no fish at the skyway. I know it's fishing, but some people seem to talk up the Solunar charts. I am not a believer. I use tides for fishing app. I try to go when there are max fish for a good bite and I am not seeing an increase in bites compared to when they are looking poor? What are your experiences?

Tight lines... thanks for reading and commenting
Thundergills

[karneei]

I almost never look at solar/lunar charts, but then again I'm not that good a fisherman. 😁 I think your right, there are more important factors, tide, water temp, wind, and if I can get out.   It was also busy out, I imaging the fish have adapted to that pressure. I'm sure someone on here has had better luck with them.  I feel some enlightenment coming on....

[seabird]

I look at the Solunar charts but have found that they are not reliable. I check the tide pattern closely and weather influence. Time of day important. Also try to select days that should not be too crowded.

[flbandit]

I pay attention to tides, and more recently water temp. Of course the major deciding factor for me is I go when I can.☺

[SkyJay]

as long as the major/minor aligns with
a good tide at the skyway theyre useful.
otherwise throw the book away.
Tide phase is everthing at the Skyway.
If youre waiting for slack tide to fish
youre defeating the purpose.
I know the grass at times can be a pain
in the @ss but its just another obstacle
to overcome out there and another reason
I preach one man one rod, stay mobile,
move around, and dont set up camp
and get stuck in one spot.
Its part of the game, as is Dolphins, wind,
boats, dirty water, tourons, and Pelicans
ect.

[thundergills]

So how long would you spend on 1 rock pile?... and would you turn around and hit the pilings on the other side?

Thank you skyjay.. I appreciate your advise

[blacktip]

Dec 1, 2019 12:00:41 GMT -5 thundergills said:

So how long would you spend on 1 rock pile?... and would you turn around and hit the pilings on the other side?

Thank you skyjay.. I appreciate your advise

No bites in 10-15 mins I normally move

[saltybass]

Dec 1, 2019 12:00:41 GMT -5 thundergills said:

So how long would you spend on 1 rock pile?... and would you turn around and hit the pilings on the other side?

Thank you skyjay.. I appreciate your advise

Couple casts/drifts per pile. Then there are 12/14 pilings under your feet. Possibly worth fishing these from the other side, maybe 2 casts per set of pilings? 2 minutes sitting with a live bait at most on any cast. Drift as far/long as you feel comfortable.

[skywaypa]

No pinfish? That's crazy. You can walk across them on the flats. And they were thick out under the actual bridge on Wed. We had so many under our dock in Holmes Beach that we loaded the buckets in minutes each day for bait. Did see a few pigs mixed in, but nothing unusual numbers wise. Maybe the pins don't like so many grouper around trying to lunchbox them under the piers.