The minnows are back! Giant schools of silverside bait minnows, or shiners, are moving up and down the beaches and into the Bay. These little fish are prime prey for a large variety of inshore and offshore game; namely king and Spanish mackerel, jacks, trout, snook, redfish, and flounder.
Off the beaches, use small spoons (~3-4”) when trolling through schools of bait to hook Spanish mackerel and jacks. Use larger spoons (~6”) on a planer to get underneath the schools where the kingfish and the occasional cobia may be hiding. This is a great opportunity to pitch spoons into the schools using spinning tackle also, which should make for a fun fight. Young anglers will enjoy the easy action and frequent hookups, and the experience will make for great memories and photo opportunities.
Inshore, the water will be clearing up, and fish may be more wary of the baits you present. Use fluorocarbon leader material when you can, and try not to overdo it on the pound test of your leader material. Large baits will not necessarily translate into large fish if the majority of the available bait are smaller than your lure. Try to mimic what’s naturally available as best you can, and use only as much weight as you need to keep your jigs from floating. Remember: bait rarely swim head-first towards the bottom, so if your bait isn’t getting hit, it may be sinking too quickly and spooking off the fish. If fishing with natural bait, use a smaller hook where you can to make sure your bait isn’t being dragged down by an over-sized hook.
Fall and winter fishing in and around Tampa Bay can be epic. Don’t forget a jacket, and be safe.
About the Author:
Ryan Rindone is originally from North Carolina, and has lived in Tampa Bay since 2011. He is an avid diver, and fishes inshore and offshore via hook and line and spearfishing.
