Steady Rains Could Trigger Redfish Bite

Capt. T.J. Stewart of Cast Away Charters said redfish action continues to be slow, and he’s hoping for summertime rainfall to cool the waters and spark a hot redfish bite.

Redfish typically get sluggish in hot water temperatures. Surface water temperatures on the flats have eclipsed 90 degrees in some places. A bit of rain, coupled with next week’s new moon and fast tides, could drop water temperatures a few degrees and get the reds feeding once again.

Look for these two conditions to lines up to really target the reds. Try sinking an artificial such as a Berkley Gulp bait or a quarter-sized chunk of pinfish on a circle hook tight to mangroves on a high tide. Free-line or dead-stick the bait. Be ready to run a couple paces down the gunnel to tug the redfish away from the structure before giving continuous pressure.

Also, tarpon fishing off Bean Point, Egmont Key and the Sunshine Skyway Bridge has been best on an outgoing tide during the afternoon or first thing in the morning for Stewart. The outgoing tide gets crabs moving and, in turn, tarpon begin feeding.

Stewart added he’s begun to see a lot more snook this week, mainly around the passes and on the edge of bars during lower tides on extremely high water. Again, the outgoing tide has, in general, been the best tide for Stewart.

“They’ve been great fish,” Stewart said. “In fact, a few were 30-inch fish.”