July remains hot without much relief–at least for another couple of months. In spite of the heat, anglers willing to endure high temperatures and humidity can look forward to catching plenty of fish. From mackerel to tarpon, everything cooperates and eats just about anything from live bait to artificial’s tossed in their direction.
As water temperatures climb through mid-to-late afternoon, the shallow backcountry water has a tendency to become oxygen depleted. So, if you’re fishing live bait, be sure to keep an eye on it. If your bait starts swimming in circles, on its side and turning belly up, it’s time to get out into deeper waters.
Snook season remains closed. Snook, redfish and trout have remained strong through the beginning of summer. Snook seem to be everywhere, especially around the flats and mangrove shorelines, willing to take greenbacks or artificial lures tossed in their direction. Speaking of greenbacks, they are everywhere one day and then disappear the next day.
Redfish action throughout the bay seems consistent with a few slot fish waiting to tug on your line. Trout, snook and redfish usually haunt the same areas, often cruising open flats and sandy patches early, then moving into the mangrove shade during the day. However, the trout will usually stay on the open grass flats hanging around broken bottom potholes.
Anglers favoring artificial lures should try topwater action with lures like the new MirrOLure Series III S7MR, the Top Dog 74MR, or Top Dog Jr. 84MR. Later in the day, soft plastic jerk baits like the favorite Gulp Shad rigged using their new 1/16 or 1/8 once heavy hooks assure success.
Mackerel fishing is on fire and Tampa Bay is loaded–July fishing should be no exception. Just find schools of threadfins or greenbacks, net a few, put out a chum bag, and hold onto your rod and reel. This means some real excitement on spinning tackle using 50 to 60-pound Seaguar leader and 2/0 long Daiichi shank hooks.
Markers and sandy broken bottom grass flats (especially those holding bait,) equal cobia. These fish also frequent markers (especially those holding bait.) They often cruise the miles of open grass flats following rays and manatee–always on the lookout for a quick snack. When fishing open water flats, it’s always a good idea to have a rod and reel rigged for something larger–you never know when one might slide by.
Tarpon fishing should continue this month. Many begin moving offshore to spawn. Threadfin hearing, crabs, and larger greenbacks are all over Tampa Bay and work very well for tarpon. The Skyway Bridge, Anna Maria, St. Pete Beaches and Egmont Key should be holding plenty of fish this month.