Tampa Bay is the BEST!!!

SnookStack

Last weeks tides were good for the sunset bite. I focused on the middle stage of incoming tide until the middle stage of the outgoing. Stepping into the water, I could feel that it had cooled down just a bit with the recent rain and winds. My goal being focused on redfish and hopefully getting a CCA tagged fish. That Hells Bay is the perfect boat for the fishing I do! After catching ladyfish for bait it's all about finding mullet, clean water, moving water or active water. Found a nice area holding water and had mullet jumping along the mangrove lines. It didn't take long til both of my girls had their redfish landed (no tags). A few days later I had an opportunity to get out on a solo mission. I moved through the flat tossing around an Exude dart (shrimp pattern), within the first 15 cast I hooked and got cut off by what appeared to be a mid 30's Snook. All evening I couldn't get over the fact I missed that fish. By the time I was able to get a bait in the water, the day was over in my mind. I had missed the fish of the day, it took forever to catch a ladyfish and was tired of paddling around in 10-15 mph winds. As I sat and checked Facebook, put on pandora, and set back to enjoy another great sunset it happened.... My rod doubles over and I'm set for an 8 minute battle with a 40" snook on 20lb test. Every head shake my heart dropped. I thought for sure this fish was going to own me. I played the fish with a real light drag she made multiple big runs with a few violent head shakes. Looking forward to this next moon phase in a few days to bring some more fish onto the flats!!!

Robpelot

Nice report. I have been finding good numbers of snook of all sizes in the south shore region. I am using pin fish as cut bait. Never can find a ladyfish when I want. What areas are you finding them in? Deeper water, morning only?

I missed some nice sized snook yesterday, and caught a few, wrestled out the mangroves. I was tossing palm sized pilchards and cut pinfish way back in the bushes. As the sun started setting I got some hits out side the mangroves as the tide dropped. Missed a HUGE snook, felt like the hook just bounced off his mouth.

I dont have a lot of luck this time of year on the flats for some reason. I always have to throw way back in the mangroves for redfish. Its like as the tide drops I dont know how to fish!

SnookStack

I've been throwing greenie or white DOA paddle tail CAL jigs into deeper moving water, pinch points for the ladyfish.

hilltide slammer

Nice work on the snook. That's a fatty

haydenfox!#$

Do you hook your lady fish under the chin and through the nose w/ a 5/0+ hook?

psycosnooker

Wow great report..

Angler Systems

That is great. Much congrats....

SnookStack

haydenfox!#$ wrote: »

Do you hook your lady fish under the chin and through the nose w/ a 5/0+ hook?

I was using it cut in 2" chunks. I was targeting redfish. I've only hooked full ladyfish in the neck meat. I hope this helps but I have only used full ladyfish for kings.

SnookStack

Thanks guys, I'm still pumped from that fish. It's better than therapy to catch a fish like that!