A good thing about cold weather is that it concentrates the fish population in specific areas, and January is usually the start up time for some great fishing if you know the when, where and how-to of winter Tampa Bay fishing.

As the temperature drops, inshore species look for warm water in order to survive.  Snook has a low tolerance level to cold water and in anything less than 60 degrees they will start to die. Redfish, trout, sheepshead and cobia are hardier species and tolerate the change with less damage.  The key is to find the warm water that attracts the fish.

 Creeks and their muddy, dark bottom draw and retain the sun’s heat, therefore creating a steady production of snook and redfish. The shore line with its decaying matter is also a great source for generating heat, thus the normal temperature of most creeks tends to be 3 to 5 degrees warmer than surrounding water, which is enough to make a difference.

Seawalls and concrete docks are another source of warm water. As the sun heats the concrete it radiates and transmits heat into the water surrounding it.  Ever wonder why fish swim along the seawalls or around pilings in the winter?

Marinas, with plenty of seawalls and docks are another great winter spot to fish, and they tend to stay several degrees warmer all year long.

Power plants rate number one in my book in concentrating fish and we are blessed to have three of these fish producers in our bay. 

Upper Tampa Bay

Creeks:  Rocky Creek, Allen Creek.
Power plant:  Located at the west end of Gandy Bridge, the hot water runoff is located on the north end of the plant.  The best spots are not directly in front of the runoff but along the northeast shore line.

Lower Tampa Bay

Creeks: Bullfrog Creek, Piney Point Creek, Redfish and Little Redfish Creek.
Power plants:  Located in Port Sutton, the best fishing takes place in the main runoff channel.  About 5 miles south is the Apollo plant, and although it has a closed off area, it still produces its fair share of fish.

Anglers have been taught over the years to slow the action down during the winter to catch more fish. However, not so when fishing the warm waters of creeks and power plants, as the fish are active and aggressive.  Live shrimp tail-hooked on a 2/0 circle hook with a small split shot about 12 inches from the hook works best to keep the bait at mid water in the main channel.  Use a free lined shrimp when fishing the outer edges with less current.

Tampa Bay Fishing Tips

Here are a few fishing tips that will help increase your catch.  At first light always fish the west end of the bay, as sunlight will heat this area first.  Look for pot holes or cuts along the outer edges of flats and creeks, as fish will tend to look for deeper water this time of year, and yes, a few inches can and will make a difference.  Artificials work great, and one of my favorites for dock and drift fishing the flats is a D.O.A. shrimp.  In deeper waters I prefer a 3/8 ounce jig bounced along the bottom with a 3 inch chartreuse tiger tail.  For fast trout action add a Florida Flats Equalizer to the D.O.A. shrimp.

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Report From Shawn Crawford
11/30/2007
Hey Guy's
I hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving, I know I did. I went to Tenn. for my once a year deer hunting trip with my Dad and my brothers and I have to tell you, I am not cut out to live up there. I froze to death the first day it was 31 deg. and raining that is enough to send you running back to Fl. so here I am. The good news is the fishing is incredible right now. It doesn't matter if you go off the beaches or stay inside there is something for everyone. The Kings are still around and some nice ones too. Just earlier this week we had several fish that were in the 25-40lb. class with a bunch of smaller ones mixed in. The mackerel are still out there as well and they are still in the bay as well. Little Tunny are out there and the Goliath Grouper are right there with them so your Little Tunny usually turns into a top water plug for one of these Goliath grouper as you reel them in.        

Inshore has been just as hot with the red fish. We have been catching them so fast it is hard for me to keep up with the count but the Mon. before Thanksgiving I had Arnie Kaplin on board with his son-in-law and they kept count and when the day was over the two of them had boated 82 red fish all between 24-34" and that isn't counting the break off's and misses. The snook action is good if you want to sit on smaller fish but the bigger ones are being very finicy and it is hard to get them to eat but the ones that do eat have been nice size fish. So far this week the biggest has been 32" but I would much rather go sit on a bunch of reds and have non stop action until we are out of bait than to chase the bigger snook around all day with only a chance of catching that big fish but as always it is up to whoever is on the boat.       

We have a cold front coming in this coming weekend and they are saying it is going to be a cold one but I don't know what it will do to the fishing it really all depends on how long it sticks around but I don't think it will affect the reds to much but we will have to wait and see. It could warm up after this front and the inshore action could go off the charts for a while. Who knows but I will let you know. I am getting booked up for around Christmas so if you have family coming in and want to get out there don't wait to long to let me know so I can get you booked. Also I am already booking for the spring season so let me know when you are wanting to go. I believe this coming spring is going to be crazy with no red tide around and as much bait is around, well I could go on and on about all the different signs of why it should be good but the signs are definitely there. I am looking forward to seeing you out there soon.
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Report from David N. Beede Jr.
11/30/2007
You can give yourself an early Christmas present up until December 15th.  Ohhhhh yes!~ It is that time of year boys and girls.  When we go to sleep with visions of Snook plums dancing in our heads.  Those visions also come with plenty of Blue Bird days.  For those of you who do not know, last Saturday was a Blue Bird day to remember.  Blue skies, raging incoming tide, full moon, and everything you could ever want except the high pressure system and the northeast wind at 20 knots that blew all the water out of the bay in direct contrast with the tides!  These are the days that you can throw everything including the kitchen sink at the fish and they will turn it down.

I personally witnessed three 30 inch Snook pass up pin fish in the 3 inch variety right at my feet!   My clients could not believe it as the day before I could not keep the same fish off the line. Needless to say we hit all the holes and picked up a few here and there to make a great day.

With the windy days you will be able to pick up Trout on the flats while drifting.  They are a plenty on the flats down on the north side of the Skyway Bridge in the Gunks on the inside of Tampa Bay.

Redfish are also found around the islands south of the Skyway including Tarpon Key and Fort Desoto.  Upper Tampa bay should be full of them!  Keep your eye out for muddy bottoms that attract and keep heat.  This is where you will find the most fish as the water cools!   Do not forget to hit your local docks with some shrimp or jigs as you never know what might lurk down under!

Flatties (Flounder) are found with the Trout and around the shallow wrecks in the sandy holes.  Bouncing jigs into these during the slower tide periods will produce the numbers.  Make sure you are using Gulp sardines or live shrimp! 

Sheep Heads will show up on the wrecks and good numbers are always found on Picnic Island Reef.  They are also plentiful on any of your docks or rock piles.   Remember to use as small a hook as you can!  These fish are sometimes as tricky as their counterpart (the Mangrove Snapper).  Either one of these will provide a good meal after a cold day of fishing and great fighting action as well!

Blue Fish, Lady Fish and El-Mackerel can all be caught on top water during the incoming tides South of Pinellas Point.  Live bait or jigs retrieved quickly will produce the most results.  Shrimp will not last long!

There will be Brown Stragglers (Cobia) lined up on the flats on the incoming tides and around the river mouths on the outgoing tide. They will hang on structure as well as around the power plants.  Target the drop offs and warm water outflows.   Live bait will do the best in drawing their attention.  Please be courteous to the other boats and give them some room if they have already hooked up or have locked their sites on a nice fish. 

While you are trying for your Cobiashi, you might run into some large Jacks!  Be prepared and get your cast off quickly because as quick as they come, they go!

You can still get out there and hit some Kings but they will be few and far between.   Most of the numbers have already run the gauntlet and moved into southern waters.  If you are going to fish them get out to the Don Cesar Break or inside Egmont and find yourself some steaming action.   Chum blocks down low will help you!  As you wait for your Smoker, you can drop deep and keep occupied with the smaller denizens.

Speaking of deep dropping,, get your big gear and drop one of the pin fish on one of your wrecks, reefs or bridge pilings and you might just get lucky with a keeper Grouper!  Some of the larger varieties are also sitting down deep. The Goliath can not be kept.  Please keep them in the water while you unhook and release a happy fish!  They deserve a Merry Christmas too! 

Offshore is brimming with all sorts of fish.  Make sure you have a light dropper rig for all sorts of Snapper, a big rig for Grouper and a flat line for Dorado, Kings and Tuna!  Black Tip Shark will show up and make for a drag burning run as well as a potential dinner treat!

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Report from Danny Guarino
11/30/2007

If you have any questions or would like to join me or any Tampa Bay USCG licensed captain, just give us a call and we will hit the bay or near shore for a day of adventure and burning drags!

The month of December can bring cold windy weather. This is the time of year when fishing in Tampa Bay can be a challenge unless you are using the right technique, the right bait and fish the right tides. This is winter time fishing at its best.

Look for Snook, Trout and Redfish to bite 2 days after the passage of a cold front, and the bite will last through the passage of the next cold front. The best bite will be on a moving tide in deeper water in canals, rivers and streams. Look for deep areas with lots of cover and dark bottoms.

Bait can also have a lot to do with your catch. Winter time is by far the best time to use big shrimp. A good technique is to use a large shrimp on a 1/8 oz jig head and toss it into a hole or up under a mangrove tree line. Don’t move it, just let it sit. You can also drag the shrimp very slowly across the bottom but slow means slow.

In any case just go out, go fishing and have a good time.

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Report from Jason Priesto
11/30/2007

The bite has been good in the month of November.We have been catch great numbers of Snook,the key for Snook has been finding the whitebait aka Greenbacks.With the water tempatures dropping the bait has been on the move,and very inconsistent have been using a Eagle claw 1/0 with 25 Sea guar fluorocarbon leader sometimes adding a float for added casting distance. The Grouper are doing just the opposite,moving to the shallow flats.Ive been hooking these lunkers in 13 foot of water.The bait of choice has been big pinfish,and whitebait,on a free lined rod.This is no time for light tackle,it time to dig out the Grouper rods. These fish can range from as small as 10 inches and we have caught them all the way up to 30 inches. I have been rigging with an Eagle Claw 3/0 circle hooks with 60 lb sea guar fluorocarbon leader. Look for the Trout and Sheepshead fishing to really pick up next month.As the

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