Over the slot Tampa Bay Redfish

Well Captain Little Jim Fesperman is back on the water and fishing at 100% after a back and shoulder injury in April. And it sure feels great to be on the water and catching fish once again.
For the last three weeks the reds and snook have been turned on and the fishing has been outstanding. On the last 11 charters my biggest problems have been the constant strong winds and big oversize Redfish. To handle the wind is in Gods hands we just have to adjust or find a nook out of the wind. As to my second problem “over the slot Redfish”--- hey, I’m not complaining. My customers have not caught a single keeper Redfish; they have all be 28” to 35”. On all but two trips my anglers hooked 25 to 30 Red’s while landing only between 11 and 17 because of break off’s on structure. Most trips included several bonus Snook up to 36”. The look on my angler’s faces and the grunts they emit when a big Red takes their bait puts a big grin on this old captain’s face. After the second or third fish most start whining about a sore wrist or forearm and making statements like “bass and trout up north don’t fight this hard and long” or “this is the biggest fish I’ve ever caught”. Again, an ear to ear grin is on the captain’s face.
The other two trips were not as good. We fishing same spots, same tackle, same weather, same tides and same bait resulted in only two Reds one day and “0” Reds the other. We did catch some big gator Trout on both trips but these were fishing not catching days. Go figure, I can’t explain what happened other than the schools moved and I was unable to find them. I don’t like days like that at all for any of my anglers but in both cases they were repeat customers, sorry guys nobody always gets on the schools.
Bait is all over the flats in lower Tampa Bay and the beaches. Just ease upon a flat near a deep water channel, prepare you chum, throw a spray around the boat, and when you see the white flashes load your net and in two or three throws you should have several hundred bait for a days fishing.

Please respect the “No Combustion Zones” and if you observe someone in a zone while running their big engine or any other violations call the law. It has taken Tampa Bay years to come back to the great fishery it is today and everyone must continue to obey the rules to keep this a viable fishery for our kids and grandkids. CALL FWC #1-888-404-3922 and or Pinellas County Sheriff’s Marine Facility 727-518-3435.