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fishing off of Tampa bay #7197724
02/27/21 08:12 AM
02/27/21 08:12 AM
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 13,958
Michigan
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Trapper Dahlgren Offline OP
trapper
Trapper Dahlgren  Offline OP
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Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 13,958
Michigan
I'm going to tampa in a few weeks , is there good fishing from shore ,and what kind of fish is good eating down there

Re: fishing off of Tampa bay [Re: Trapper Dahlgren] #7197731
02/27/21 08:21 AM
02/27/21 08:21 AM
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 13,958
Michigan
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Trapper Dahlgren Offline OP
trapper
Trapper Dahlgren  Offline OP
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Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 13,958
Michigan
we are stay at bradenton beach area , any help ?

Re: fishing off of Tampa bay [Re: Trapper Dahlgren] #7197750
02/27/21 08:55 AM
02/27/21 08:55 AM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,188
Goldsboro, NC
John C Offline
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John C  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,188
Goldsboro, NC
If your going somewhere new with fishing styles your not used to spend the money on a guide for a day or half day and get out there and catch some fish. You’ll have a lot more fun catching than fishing


More Cowbell
Re: fishing off of Tampa bay [Re: Trapper Dahlgren] #7197767
02/27/21 09:10 AM
02/27/21 09:10 AM
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 3,897
Wisconsin
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Eagleye Offline
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Eagleye  Offline
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Joined: Oct 2012
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Wisconsin
I have fished St Pete / Clearwater from shore numerous times and you will catch a variety of fish, we caught a lot of salt water cats, sharks, sheepshead, snapper and whiting. The only fish we consumed was the sheepshead, I had negative connotations from it being a rough fish in Wisconsin but it was delicious. Look for cook and catch restaurants, you bring your fillets in and they cook your fish and you can just order sides.
Here’s my set up that I use for surf fishing in Florida and Caribbean, the Cabela’s Salt Striker rod and reel combos travel well in carry-on or checked luggage, I run a Kast King sling pack for wadding and a rod holder for surf fishing. The salt is brutal on equipment and I rinse everything in the shower or foot wash stations at the hotel. I usually buy a small cheap Styrofoam cooler to keep bait in and then throw it away when I’m done, the shore birds will steal all your bait if left unattended. If you pre-rig a Wolf River style rig with an Owner hook and use shrimp as bait you will catch a nice variety. Maybe sheepshead bite all year long in that area but if you fish the pier columns you should connect, I caught a lot of species on artificial spoons and inline spinners but I like the D.O.A. shrimp in a root beer color for those waters. Have a great time!

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Re: fishing off of Tampa bay [Re: Trapper Dahlgren] #7197801
02/27/21 09:54 AM
02/27/21 09:54 AM
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 683
SD
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Tray Offline
"Wilson Jr."
Tray  Offline
"Wilson Jr."
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 683
SD
Check out the Skyway fishing Pier on 275 north of Bradenton, also caught fish on the very N end of Siesta Key beach where it turns to rock.
First time we were there we hired a guide for 1/2 day out of Sarasota and fisher in the bay for sheephead, trout, flounder, snapper and had a blast, probably caught 75 fish and it cost about $300. Would recommend that for your first trip.

Re: fishing off of Tampa bay [Re: Trapper Dahlgren] #7197802
02/27/21 09:56 AM
02/27/21 09:56 AM
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 423
TN
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lcd Offline
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lcd  Offline
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Posts: 423
TN
You lucky dog. Don't know nothing about the fishing, but you all are welcome to stop by the house on your way down and drink a cup of coffee, and heck if you want to stop by on the way back, depending on when you go we can get in some turkey hunting. Opens the first Saturday in April. Just bring some camo, as I have guns and ammo. Just saying.

Re: fishing off of Tampa bay [Re: Trapper Dahlgren] #7197803
02/27/21 09:56 AM
02/27/21 09:56 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Bruce T Offline
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Bruce T  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
All kinds of charter boats there.


Nevada bound
Re: fishing off of Tampa bay [Re: Trapper Dahlgren] #7199832
02/28/21 07:43 PM
02/28/21 07:43 PM
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 13,958
Michigan
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Trapper Dahlgren Offline OP
trapper
Trapper Dahlgren  Offline OP
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Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 13,958
Michigan
thanks guys smile

Re: fishing off of Tampa bay [Re: Trapper Dahlgren] #7200280
03/01/21 12:10 AM
03/01/21 12:10 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 25,423
Georgia
warrior Offline
trapper
warrior  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 25,423
Georgia
My grandfather lived in Clearwater. He fished three days a week most of his retirement. We would usually fish the gulf side drifting live shrimp under a float along the grass flats for specks and could get into not only specks but flounder and channel bass. Sheepshead were usually closer in and structure related. Things like bridge pilings or piers. A good friend of his, Mr Brewer, loved sheepshead and would take a flat hoe to those pilings scraping barnacles loose to chum the area then cast small shrimp into those areas for sheepshead. Grand dad's been gone since 90 and I miss that. A visit down there ment a big fish fry and fishing trip.


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Re: fishing off of Tampa bay [Re: warrior] #7200281
03/01/21 12:12 AM
03/01/21 12:12 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Bruce T Offline
trapper
Bruce T  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Originally Posted by warrior
My grandfather lived in Clearwater. He fished three days a week most of his retirement. We would usually fish the gulf side drifting live shrimp under a float along the grass flats for specks and could get into not only specks but flounder and channel bass. Sheepshead were usually closer in and structure related. Things like bridge pilings or piers. A good friend of his, Mr Brewer, loved sheepshead and would take a flat hoe to those pilings scraping barnacles loose to chum the area then cast small shrimp into those areas for sheepshead. Grand dad's been gone since 90 and I miss that. A visit down there ment a big fish fry and fishing trip.

Nice.


Nevada bound
Re: fishing off of Tampa bay [Re: Trapper Dahlgren] #7200286
03/01/21 12:17 AM
03/01/21 12:17 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 25,423
Georgia
warrior Offline
trapper
warrior  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 25,423
Georgia
The really nice thing about fishing in the Clearwater area is the gulf on one side, you could go offshore for snapper, cobia, amberjack, etc then you had inshore both on the gulf and bay side plus a short run north you had freshwater in the Withlachascodee (sp?) River.


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Re: fishing off of Tampa bay [Re: Trapper Dahlgren] #7200288
03/01/21 12:20 AM
03/01/21 12:20 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Bruce T Offline
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Bruce T  Offline
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Northern Maine
I remember when driving to Clearwater there was a narrow long strip of land with people fishing both sides and alot of boats.


Nevada bound
Re: fishing off of Tampa bay [Re: Trapper Dahlgren] #7200346
03/01/21 03:50 AM
03/01/21 03:50 AM
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,575
N. Carolina
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Scout1 Offline
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Scout1  Offline
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N. Carolina
For a more affordable guide, look into a kayak guide. I found one several years back in Panama City. A lot cheaper and then later just rent or buy your own yak to fish inshore with. We used 2-3 inch crabs on 1 ounce lead heads around the bridge pile ons. Big redfish love the crabs.


-------------------------------------
DJT & MTG in 2024!
Re: fishing off of Tampa bay [Re: Trapper Dahlgren] #7200358
03/01/21 06:07 AM
03/01/21 06:07 AM
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 13,958
Michigan
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Trapper Dahlgren Offline OP
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Michigan
whats the best eating fish ,one can catch from shore , ?

Re: fishing off of Tampa bay [Re: Trapper Dahlgren] #7200390
03/01/21 07:46 AM
03/01/21 07:46 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,165
Central NC
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traprjohn Offline
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Central NC
before our trip to FL I asked LOCALS here:
https://flafishingforum.com/ubbthreads.php
and here
https://forums.floridasportsman.com/
hope this helps


www.sevenoakstrappingsupplies.com for trap mods and gear
The 10 Commandments are not suggestions.
Buy a soldiers meal EVERY chance you can.

Re: fishing off of Tampa bay [Re: Trapper Dahlgren] #7200463
03/01/21 09:18 AM
03/01/21 09:18 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 25,423
Georgia
warrior Offline
trapper
warrior  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 25,423
Georgia
Originally Posted by Trapper Dahlgren
whats the best eating fish ,one can catch from shore , ?


Somewhat subjective, but I would probably have to say flounder.


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Re: fishing off of Tampa bay [Re: Trapper Dahlgren] #7200611
03/01/21 10:53 AM
03/01/21 10:53 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 25,423
Georgia
warrior Offline
trapper
warrior  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 25,423
Georgia
A little know tidbit about Clearwater and the Pinellas County peninsula. As it has water on both sides the climate is moderated by water temps and doesn't suffer as much from freezes as Tampa does across the bay. This microclimate is more akin to Ft Lauderdale further south. My grandfather was able to successfully grow key limes in his backyard which are the most frost sensitive of all the citrus. He grew key and persian limes, duncan grapefruit, valencias, washington novels, ponderosa lemons, minneolas. We would come back from a visit with the trunk loaded half frozen fish and half citrus.

BTW, while you're in the area you need to search out a source for Duncan Grapefruit. The Duncan is the original variety of grapefruit and is the very best tasting of them all. It fell out of favor as it is very seedy and white. The sports marsh pink then thompson seedless replaced it and now the market has moved on to the reds. IMO and in those in the know none have surpassed Duncan in flavor. It's now a rare one and only found in backyards or specialty local groves.


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Re: fishing off of Tampa bay [Re: Trapper Dahlgren] #7200697
03/01/21 12:01 PM
03/01/21 12:01 PM
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 10,787
Asheville, NC
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charles Offline
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Asheville, NC
I fished with a guide out of Tampa in the early 80s. We ran forever and the water never got very deep. I think we caught snapper.

Re: fishing off of Tampa bay [Re: charles] #7200751
03/01/21 12:51 PM
03/01/21 12:51 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 25,423
Georgia
warrior Offline
trapper
warrior  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 25,423
Georgia
Originally Posted by charles
I fished with a guide out of Tampa in the early 80s. We ran forever and the water never got very deep. I think we caught snapper.


If you left out of Tampa you definitely had a long run to make as Tampa proper is all the up in the bay and you would've had a long run just to get to the gulf.

The gulf in that area of Florida isn't as good snapper grounds as the northern gulf as the shelf extends further out on the Florida west coast and lacks the current from the Mississippi Sound. There's definitely snapper to be found off Tampa just expect a longer ride and more searching to get into them. Florida is trying to improve this with more artificial reefs but there's only so much that can be done lacking depth and current.

Another thing, check for charters out of Tarpon Springs. Tarpon is north of Clearwater and a wonderful little Greek town founded by Greek sponge divers. It's kind of touristy but worth it for the baclava of greek coffee.


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Re: fishing off of Tampa bay [Re: Trapper Dahlgren] #7200853
03/01/21 02:51 PM
03/01/21 02:51 PM
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Posts: 683
SD
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Tray Offline
"Wilson Jr."
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Originally Posted by Trapper Dahlgren
whats the best eating fish ,one can catch from shore , ?


Sheepshead

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