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Captain's Corner: Water temperature perfect for fishing

 
Published Jan. 3, 2015

It looks like we are in for another beautiful weekend for fishing. The water temperature is sitting around 70, which is perfect for almost any species you want to target. There are plenty of scaled sardines at the bridges. You can also find some on the flats but on the smaller side. The key to success this time of year is to downsize tackle. I would not use anything heavier than 20 fluoro­carbon leader and a 1/0 hook. With the warmer air and water temperatures, the snook bite has taken off. I have been all over Tampa Bay this past week and the bite seems to be the same. Weedon Island is covered with snook. Your best bet is to free-line bait with a slow retrieve. If you have bigger bait, you might have to put a cork on your line to slow it down. Big gator trout are all over. Expect to catch fish up to 30 inches. These bigger trout are in about 2 feet of water in the sand holes. The hogfish and mangrove snapper bite is hot offshore in about 40 feet.

Mike Gore charters out of Tampa Bay. Call him at (813) 390-6600 or visit tampacharters.com.