Fishing Reports
SouthShore Tampa Bay Fishing Forecast
July 2010
Summer heat and Thunderstorms will dictate the time I go fishing this month. I like to start a little earlier and finish before the storm roll across the state.
Over the last month we have seen some positive signs for snook. I have chosen not to target them much this year and if I do I try to take a little extra care to insure they are returned to the water un-harmed.
Trout will be in the deeper flats where the water will be a little cooler I expect the trout bite will slow just a little from the fantastic May and June bite we just experienced. I also expect to see more smaller trout as we head into the deep summer patterns
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The Southshore flats should be holding schools of Redfish but May and June were a big disappointment. I don’t see any changes for July. If I do target Reds it will be at high water and with dead bait under the mangroves in Little Cockroach, and Cockroach Bay as well as the Joe Island area.
Mackerel have been off the wall in May and June and I expect to see this trend continue through the rest of the summer. I like using white bait both on a hook and as chum. 3x # 1/0 long shank hooks and 50# leader help to improve the catch ratio, but still expect the toothy critters to eat through the leader.
Tarpon started showing up in May and were in full swing in the month of June. The Tarpon bite has been early morning but better late afternoon with an outgoing tide. Pinfish, Pass Crabs and big Thread Fins are the bait choice
The big surprise so far this year has been the cobia bite. I have seen and caught more cobia this year than I have in years past. Cobia seem to be just about anywhere I fish in open water. If I sit in a spot for any period of time and chum, more than likely a cobia will swim right up to the boat. This has been a by catch on some of my mackerel trips. What a great surprise
Capt Danny Guarino a life long resident of the Tampa area and full time fishing guide on Tampa Bay. 813-956-2010 Capt Danny co-host the Outdoor Fishing Adventures Radio show on ESPN 1040 Tampa Bay each Saturday Morning.
Capt Danny Guarino
813-956-2010
