Our Florida fishing report page offers up to date information on
fishing in the Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tarpon Springs, Orlando and Boca Grande
area of Florida's West Coast. For more information on our Florida fishing charters and
tarpon fishing charters, please click the link below
Water
temperatures slipped into the upper 50s the past few weeks. Its
been a cooler than norm winter for Florida. Fronts have been
relentlessly crossing the state not in typical 5 to 7 day
patterns but in what seems like every other day.
Best bet has
been offshore as the deeper water acts as an insulation blanket
and in turn is much slower to cool. Naturally, in volatile
winter weather patterns, getting there has not been something
you can plan on more than a day or two in advance. Warmer water
is well offshore now and that is where lethargic gag grouper
will be laying in the wings. Amberjack will be schooled over the
deeper wrecks and springs. Small nearshore rock piles are
offering up consistent sheepshead fishing, some grouper,
mangrove snapper, and grunts.
Just in the nick
of time winter trout fishing has become consistent in the deeper
water off the barrier islands and the Intercoastal. There has
been a good mix of fish together as far as size with some jumbos
mixed in with the more abundant schoolies. Drifting open flats
and slowly working jigs just off the bottom gets the nod.
Near all rock
piles or barnacle-encrusted pilings inside the rivers, deep
creeks and residential canals are producing a consistent bite of
sheepshead. Throw in the other typical winter dwellers--- black
drum, redfish, and mango snapper and the day is par for the
course in the dead of winter.
On the upside,
we are just a few weeks away from the benefits of a cold winter.
That of course is the resurgence of the fish forced to the
backwaters with little to eat over several months. This event
accompanied with the rigors in the needs of re-producing, they
will return to the flats with a vengeance.
As we wait
Mother Nature out---ones mind can not help but go into a tarpon
time warp frame of mind. Giant tarpon are now just a couple of
months away. Now is the time to book the best giant tarpon
fishing in the world for 2003. Enjoy the pictures!
Screaming Drags
and Tired Arms!
Robert
McCue
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