Sand Bay Weather Forecast
Fishing reports straight from our guides in Sand Bay
Awesome trout and sheep's head bite!
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Shallow water fishing has been excellent in Clearwater this winter. Huge trout and big redfish are the targets. Top water action early in the day has brought several trout in the plus 20 inch class to the net. Rapala skitter v's worked through the mullet schools will not only attract the attention of the trout but also the redfish. This is the time of year that the big trout move into the super shallows and this year is the best we've seen in many years.
Tailing redfish have been spooky but catchable during the first half of the incoming tide....
Tailing redfish have been spooky but catchable during the first half of the incoming tide....
Tailing redfish have been spooky but catchable during the first half of the incoming tide. Soft plastic baits like the Z-man jerk shadz tipped with pro- cure scent are working well with the right cast and the right approach.
Lots of schoolie trout can be caught in the slightly deeper water just off the shallow flats. 1/8 ounce jig heads with a Z-man jerk shadz catch em all day long. Making them easy targets in the 25' sea hunt if you have a larger crew.
Redfish have also been caught in the sea hunt this month. Top of the tide is the time to soak some fresh baits for redfish hanging in the mullet schools.
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Bowfishing action is slow but still rewarding during the cold weather months in Tampa. My customers are rewarded with some nice fish like big Sheepshead, Mullet and Gar
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Black drum and sheepshead bite is heating up. Lots of small reds, nearshore mangrove snappers and grunts, with occasional hogfish
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Trout bite has been on fire!!
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Hogfish are biting!
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Trout bite has been fire!
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With the arrival of these colder weather and water temperatures dropping into our mid-60s. Sheepshead and mullet are our go to fish this time of year on the Shallow Flats around oyster beds and Mangrove lines, sand pockets. Also look for rock piles or structure in clean clear deeper water where these Sheepshead are hanging out with Mangrove Snapper. Bridge piling are also holding the big boys.
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Shrimp For The Win!
I always say, “Fish are Fickle.” That’s particularly true this time of year with the advent of a passing cold front every three to four days. One day the fish are active, the next day lethargic.
After a cold front, even when I take the time to catch scaled sardines before picking up my charter clients, the fish barely respond to them. Fortunately, I always stop on my way to the boat ramp and buy some live shrimp for a backup. Having those shrimp aboard usually saves the day.
At times like these, turning shrimp can...
I always say, “Fish are Fickle.” That’s particularly true this time of year with the advent of a passing cold front every three to four days. One day the fish are active, the next day lethargic.
After a cold front, even when I take the time to catch scaled sardines before picking up my charter clients, the fish barely respond to them. Fortunately, I always stop on my way to the boat ramp and buy some live shrimp for a backup. Having those shrimp aboard usually saves the day.
At times like these, turning shrimp can...
I always say, “Fish are Fickle.” That’s particularly true this time of year with the advent of a passing cold front every three to four days. One day the fish are active, the next day lethargic.
After a cold front, even when I take the time to catch scaled sardines before picking up my charter clients, the fish barely respond to them. Fortunately, I always stop on my way to the boat ramp and buy some live shrimp for a backup. Having those shrimp aboard usually saves the day.
At times like these, turning shrimp can make all the difference in the world. These hardy baits are appealing to game fish even when bait fish become scarce, dramatically increasing your chances of a successful catch.
Shrimp are known as the “Sara Lee” of baits. “Nobody doesn’t like a Sara Lee.” Snook, redfish, seatrout, sheepshead, and more love them. I could go on and on, but you get the picture. Not to sound like “Bubba” from the movie Forrest Gump, but you can catch fish with live shrimp, dead shrimp, frozen shrimp, or pieces of shrimp. “That’s, that’s about it!”
Additionally, crustaceans like shrimp are not only versatile but also resilient in colder water conditions, which makes them a reliable choice when other baits fail. Their natural scent and movement attract a wide variety of species, ensuring that anglers have a dependable option throughout fluctuating water temperatures.
If you like to fish with artificials or flies, shrimp imitations are the perfect cold-weather bait.
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With Tampa Bay water temperatures dropping in the mid 60s the Sheepshead & Mullet action has been the go-to species as these fish congregate around oyster beds, Mangrove lines and any type of structure that produces food for them.
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