Q:Mr. Sargeant,

I have a couple questions regarding your recent article about shark fishing. I have been fishing for sharks for many years up
near the Crystal River area. I am looking at doing shark fishing here in Tampa Bay now.  Some of the terms and areas are unfamiliar to me.  I was hoping you could give me some extra guidance.

1. I am looking for the best places to go close to the Gandy Bridge. You mentioned the shadow line. What’s the shadow line? And is this only good after dark? What about during the day?

2. I have been told the Howard Frankland is a good area. Where? What other areas close to the Gandy would be good?

3. Are there any areas in Hillsborough Bay that have lots of sharks?

4. Most of the areas you described were flats and spoil areas. This is drastically different then what we experience up north. There the deeper holes were better as the water temps increased.

Thanks so much.
Brian

A: Gandy Bridge is by far best after dark, when you might actually see 15 or 20 bull sharks over a period of a few hours running right down the line under the bridge where the lights fall. Trick is to get in there in a boat and tie to the pilings, then throw a ladyfish in front of them as they approach. Same tactic works for tarpon, by the way. I’m not sure about Howard Frankland, but I’d bet they’re around there, too. Tie to a piling and drop a couple of big bags of cut fish chum over the side and you’ll likely draw them in, day or night, at either bridge.

Regarding fishing ‘’flats,’’ in this case I’m talking the outside edge, where water is typically 4 to 10 feet deep, rather than up in the very shallow areas. Same for spoil areas - water is typically no less than 5 feet over these areas, more commonly 8 to 10 in surrounds of 20 feet or more. The sharks lay in the deeper water, then rush into the shallows when ladyfish or mackerel get up there feeding. Again, a chum bag works wonders. Tight lines, FS