Westerly Flow Continues

For what seems forever, westerly winds continue to plague the Gulf Coast. High pressure situated over the Gulf creates what meteorologist call a "reverse weather pattern". Generally speaking, this scenario creates onshore winds that dirty the water, forms storms over the Gulf that move inland in the morning/ early afternoon, less than favorable dew points, humidity and above average evening temperatures. While fishing is never at peak in the dead of summer, the well-situated weather pattern has made things much more of a challenge. It would be an understatement to say the weather patterns have changed the past two years and we can only hope for a high to move over Bermuda to offer some relief.

Tarpon are best sighted on the lee side of land at low light and particularly on tide changes. For the most part the action has been best inside Tampa Bay. While some fish continue to be jumped off the Gulf beaches, most are from the piers and bridges. The swash along the beach has been dirty with sand and very uncomfortable from a boat. Inside the Bay, live threadfins, slow sinking plugs and jigs get the nod on channel edges, river mouths, and the dredge areas. The big bridges that span the Bay are too seeing consistent action by working live baits around the structures by day and night. Pay particular attention to bait pods as they are holding tarpon, mackerel, jacks, ladyfish, cobia and the father time of the Bay…catfish.

Black drum has made their way inside the Bay and can be found around the bridges. Action is best at night when the huge drum works the barnacle-encrusted pilings for a meal. An eating size blue crab crushed and weighed to the bottom along the pilings will offer your best opportunities to get your line stretched. These fish offer no real food value, as the old meat is foul tasting and full of worms. There is no real sense in killing these huge fish for bragging rights. Pompano, permit, cobia, redfish, snook, jacks, and sharks of all sizes are frequenting the bridges as well during the summer months.

Robert McCue

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