Drop Dead Bait to Beat Summer Doldrums

Dominic Caro of Southeast Fishing Tackle Liquidators said snook and pompano have been scattered on most of the area’s beaches, trout are in deeper grass flats on the edges of channels and the bridges of upper Tampa Bay have held some good-sized snook.

Also, Caro reported running across a group of about 500 big redfish in the Fort DeSoto area. “They were following mullet pressed up against mangroves,” he said.

The majority of captains are reporting having a hard time finding shiners. Some captains will use recently-hatched bait, which can be found all around the local piers, on small tackle. Caro said he has been using live shrimp or cut dead bait.

“I’ve had fariy good luck with them,” Caro said. “Clearwater Bait & Tackle has had real good bait. Pinfish are also easy to find.”

Because of water temperatures on the flats topping out around 90 degrees, inshore game fish are lethargic and tend to be reluctant in chasing live bait. This is why some captains are having success with easy-to-eat dead baits.

Caro added that several large blacktip sharks have been found around the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and some grouper are in the passes and around Bean Point, north of Anna Maria Island. Thge Skyway piers also are holding tarpon. Anglers can try chumming with dead baits and following the chum line by free-lining a dead bait in a rapidly-moving tide.