With spring running 4 weeks behind schedule look for Mackerel and Trout to be Tampa Bay’s best and most consistent bite. Snook have not begun their journey out of the rivers out to the mangrove islands and flats. Redfish have been easier to locate but hard to get to chew. Target Mackerel and Trout and you won’t be disappointed.
Find the baitfish and the Macks will be nearby. Unlike snook and redfish I have never seen mackerel that wouldn’t chew. The deck of Captain Steven’s Pathfinder was covered in glass minnows spit out by the mackerel we brought onboard. While taking pictures and dehooking Macks this week it was clear they had been gorging on glass minnows.
Saturday morning started with a blast, wind blast that is. While running to the south Skyway Bridge ugly East winds made the trip and gathering of baitfish next to impossible. Plan B is to use live shrimp which trout love.
The water was badly churned and murky from 24 hours of winds. Captain Steven will always tell you with trout clean water are a must. With that in mind and trying to get a comfortable ride for my anglers we set out for a quick 4 hour trip. Pinellas Point was stop number one and it did not take long to get into the action. Trout to 18” no larger trout like mid week and mackerel chewed right on plan.
Wanting to catch a redfish we targeted a canal out of the wind that has been ok the last few weeks. Zip best described that action. Back to clean water and the trout action turned right on. Back to the marina and on my way home by noon.
