Tampa Bay Continues To Be Spot On Red

Saltwater Nation: Florida

This may be the best redfishing we’ve seen in Tampa Bay in a long time. We’re hearing from Saltwater Nation anglers from the bay area that the reds are in thick and seem to be sticking around.

The flats around Joe Bay on the South Shore up past the Tampa Bay Estuarine Ecosystem to Coakroach Bay to Pelican Cove past Apollo Beach have all been holding nice schools of reds. High tide or low tide seem to both be producing.

There are also a lot of fish around Picnic Island and down toward Mullet Key and Ft. DeSoto.

There’s a lot of good live bait around, but if you can’t get a net on bait, start working a MirroLure Mirradine or a Strike King Redfish Magic. The fish are actively feeding and hitting baits that are moving, so you want a lure with some good, almost frantic, action. A little rattling sound or surface splash couldn’t hurt either. If you’re working live baits, try putting them under a Cajun Thunder or other popping cork to add a little bit of attention-getting sound.

Let us know how you do with the Tampa Bay reds; be sure to send your pics to the Saltwater Nation gallery at saltwaternation@inventivefishing.com