5 Pound Tampa Bay Trout

[onthemarkcharters]

Southwest winds and building swells slowed today’s Spanish Mackerel action. Unlike the last 10 days were catching 30 fish an hour per angler it was work today. Travis and his 7 year daughter Maddie here from Boston were fun to watch. I loved it when Maddie said dad I have 8 fish and you have only 2!

The winds were getting brisker and the swells gather height so we ducked back inside Tampa Bay for some protection from the wind and a smoother ride. The bite was ok as we took Mackerel, Sharks, Bluefish, Flounder and Ladyfish all on live white baits. Maddie gave us all a thrill as she had a 40” Cobia crash her bait she was reeling in not 10’ from the boat! Sadly the hook never found home.

A quick run to a nearby canal resulted in 20 minutes of nothing so we made another move to a grass flat fishing 3-6’. Travis rod bent deeply as the fish pulled drag. I was in the rear of the boat and could here the fish on the surface. At first glance I thought redfish but was amazed to see a beautiful trout. The beauty checked in at 25” and 5 pounds! By the way that was Travis first trout.

Captain Steven Markovich
www.onthemarkcharters.com