Now is the time to get out of the boat

Posted Dec 14, 2012 by The Tampa Tribune

Updated Dec 14, 2012 at 06:36 PM

BY MIKE ANDERSON

This week, Billy and I did something we don’t normally do. We got out of the boat. Negative low tides created the perfect opportunity to do a little wade fishing.

Captain Terry Russo took us down along the South Shore and had us working pot holes inside the outer bars, which were completely dry because of the tides. These areas trapped loads of trout, redfish and flounder in the deep depressions up on the flat. We caught fish for two hours straight.

Terry and Billy were using live shrimp with good success, and I was throwing the Strike King Redfish Magic Glass Minnow in pearl on a quarter-ounce jig head. Using the artificial baits gave me the upper hand, as I was able to cover three times as much water. The live shrimp worked well, but not as well as the plastics.

Saturday and Sunday this weekend offer anglers some great negative low tides, so get out and take advantage. The Cockroach Bay flats, Fourth Street, Weedon Island, Joe’s Island and Fort De Soto will offer great opportunities for wade fishing this weekend.

The Bay area snook bite is still on, as well, with several of our captains reporting better than average numbers because of the mild weather.

It looks like winds will be good for offshore anglers. The red grouper, scamp, amberjack and mangrove snapper bites have been steady, with a few nice kingfish still around to be had.

Catch Billy Nobles and Mike Anderson on the “Reel Animals Fishing Show” on Saturdays from 6:30-7 a.m. on WFLA, Ch. 8, and from 6-9 a.m. on 970 AM, and on Sundays from 7-9 a.m. on 620 AM. To book a charter, call 1-866-GAMEFISH or visit http://www.reelanimalsfishingshow.com.