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Steady action inshore continues into the New Year

Posted Jan 10, 2012 by Tribune Sports

Updated Jan 10, 2012 at 03:36 PM

BY RAY MARKHAM

Despite a strong cold front that brought freezing temperatures, a big water temperature drop and high winds, fish responded after a few days of moderate weather. Much warmer conditions and better tides, brought on by the approaching full moon at the tail end of the week, brought fish back to the dinner table. Water temperatures had taken a nose dive of about 10 degrees by Wednesday, but a strong rally with mild weather and light winds changed much of the setbacks the front threw at us. Rebounding back into the low- to mid-60s, trout, redfish, bluefish, flounder, and gag grouper all began to chew by the weekend.

Fishing lower Tampa Bay over some hard bottom produced some nice trout in about 10 feet of water around rocks, deep grass beds, and on spots that changed depths rapidly. Speckled trout in the low 20-inch range were caught on CAL Curly Tails and CAL Shad tails. The new DOA Deadly Tandems were very productive. These new lures will show up in local tackle shops in the next couple of weeks. Night glow with gold holographic glitter curly tails rigged on 1/16-ounce chartreuse jig heads put limits of trout in the boat. Flounder to 17 inches were also caught along with the trout. Bluefish hung in areas of deep grass with ladyfish.

Harry Fink of Pinellas County and his daughters, Kelly and Nichole, saw some good action with CAL Shads. A nice gag grouper was caught and released in 10 feet of water on some patches of hard bottom. Good numbers of trout were caught. Working the shallows in Terra Ceia produced several nice redfish on the same lures.

MirrOlure Lil’ John soft plastic jerk baits and Paul Brown Originals were also quite effective for bluefish, trout, and redfish in Joe Bay on the rising tides around mangrove islands and oyster bars.

Capt. Ray Markham of Backwater Promotions specializes in inshore light-tackle fishing with artificial lures. He runs the Flat Back II out of Terra Ceia and can be reached for charter at (941) 228-3474.