Fishing News
No Boat? Not An Issue In Spots
By Frank Sargeant, [email protected]
Keith Moore of Tampa was among a number of letter writers over the last year who asked me to point out a few spots where anglers without boats might expect reasonable saltwater action. Fortunately for those who found a rod and reel under their tree on Christmas morning, there are several such spots around Tampa Bay.
The most obvious, of course, are the Sunshine Skyway Piers. These make up the longest fishing piers in the world, and because they span the main entry into Tampa Bay, they offer an amazing variety of fishing action.
Currently, the best bet around the pilings is likely to be sheepshead, which can be caught by fishing small pieces of fresh shrimp directly against the cement supports. Spanish come and go - they'll probably be gone for a while with the wind and cold weather, but if the water goes back up to 70 degrees, they'll be back. Fish them when you see them jumping. Either a live shrimp drifted with the current or a fast-moving spoon or jig will get them.
One of the best things about the Skyway is that you can drive right up to your fishing spot after paying the small entry fee. It's a great area for handicapped or older anglers who can't do a lot of walking. And there are restrooms, bait shops and restaurants right on the piers.
If you want to try for bigger game, you can use a sabiki rig, a series of tiny, fly-like hooks, jigged right against the pilings to catch threadfins and other baitfish. Then, fish these on larger tackle for gags, which move in around the artificial reefs close to the span in winter.
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