Winter Scouting Tampa Bay

[onthemarkcharters]

With the most recent cold snap becoming a distant memory its back to fun in the sun. Captain Steven spent Wednesday scouting winter trout holes around Tampa Bay.

I left O’Neill’s marina at 1030 am and was greeted with 53 degree water. Ft. Desoto and Tierra Verde waters were murky so I headed up Tampa Bay to Weedon Island. Captain Steven loves this area except today it was a bust at best! If you count stingrays I did good.

Next I motored across the bay to the Apollo Beach power plant. As planned the water got warmer as I got closer finally settling in at 64 a full 11 degrees warmer than lower Tampa Bay. I deployed a live shrimp in 5’ and set the pole in the rod holder. I started casting a Mirrordine Heavy and had my lure crushed on the 3rd cast. A big Cobia inhaled my offering and was screaming drag. Sadly the Cobia threw the hooks.

Finally I found the trout within a mile of the marina! DOA Cal root beer jigs did the trick. Scouting is essential for any guide especially with this colder than normal December. Good news we have a nice warming trend at hand with high temps in the lo 70’s with overnight lows only 60.

Captain Steven Markovich
www.onthemarkcharters.com