Afishionado Guide Services

Shrimp For The Win!

I always say, “Fish are Fickle.” That’s particularly true this time of year with the advent of a passing cold front every three to four days. One day the fish are active, the next day lethargic.

After a cold front, even when I take the time to catch scaled sardines before picking up my charter clients the fish barely responded to them. Fortunately, I always stop on my way to the boat ramp and buy some live shrimp for a backup. Having those shrimp aboard usually saves the day. At times like these, turning shrimp can make all the difference in the world. These hardy baits are appealing to game fish even when bait fish become scarce, dramatically increasing your chances of a successful catch.

Shrimp are known as the “Sara Lee” of baits. “Nobody doesn’t like a Sara Lee.” Snook, redfish, seatrout, sheepshead, and more love them. I could go on and on, but you get the picture. Not to sound like “Bubba” from the movie Forrest Gump, but you can catch fish with live shrimp, dead shrimp, frozen shrimp, or pieces of shrimp. “That’s, that’s about it!”

Additionally, crustaceans like shrimp are not only versatile but also resilient in colder water conditions, which makes them a reliable choice when other baits fail. Their natural scent and movement attract a wide variety of species, ensuring that anglers have a dependable option throughout fluctuating water temperatures.

If you like to fish with artificials or flies, shrimp imitations are the perfect cold weather bait. When making a presentation, the key to success is to work the fake bait slowly. I always remind people, “if you think you’re working it slow enough, slow it down even more.” Also, remember the fish you’re after are most likely in deep water, so let the bait sink before working it back to the boat. For you fly anglers, it’s best to use a sinking tip fly line to help keep the bait down in the water column.

Although, the sheepshead spawn doesn’t occur until late winter to early spring, primarily from February through April, they’re becoming more active. Cold water temperatures really turn sheepshead on, and they start to school up. As we move into the latter part of January, you’ll encounter more schools and larger specimens.

Key areas to target are rocky structures, bridge pilings, and docks where sheepshead tend to congregate during these colder months. Using shrimp around these areas can yield impressive results, especially as the fish grow more aggressive in anticipation of the spawning season. Patience and persistence are key, as sheepshead can be notorious bait stealers, but the payoff is well worth the effort.

As for terminal tackle, the lighter the better. When fishing during colder periods, it’s also beneficial to downsize. Due to the lack of rain, the water clarity is excellent in most of Tampa Bay right now. For that reason, I’ll drop down to 20lb. fluorocarbon leader and a 1/0 hook, especially when targeting sheepshead.

Lighter lines and smaller hooks can help present crustacean baits more naturally, leading to more strikes from wary fish. Adjust your approach based on water clarity and current conditions for the best results. When fishing structure where additional weight is needed, I’ll add just enough split shot to get the shrimp down to the fish.

Afishionado, “Adventures in Fishing.”

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During their visit to Tampa for the National League of Cities, 2024 City Summit, attendees from Santa Clara, UT took the opportunity to experience some Tampa Bay flats fishing. (L-R) Brock, City Manager, Rick, Mayor and Ben, City Council enjoyed two separate days of non-stop snook and redfish action.

Needless to say, “They’re Hooked” and are looking forward to another adventure aboard Afishionado in the future.

Afishionado, “Adventures in Fishing.”

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Excellent day on the flats!
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Today, was a snook and redfish kind of a day!
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The redfish and snook bite is on!
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I don’t usually mix politics and fishing, but this November amendment 2, the right to fish and hunt is on the ballot. Even though it’s already a Florida statute, statutes can be changed or eliminated by the legislature without any vote from “We the People.” Voting yes on amendment 2, makes the right to fish and hunt a Florida constitutional right which is stronger than a statute. However, to be enacted the amendment has to be approved by greater than 60% of the electorate.

Don’t let anti-fishing and anti-hunting organizations potentially stand in your way of enjoying the great outdoors in the future, vote yes on amendment 2.

Please spread the word.

Thanks,

Wade Osborne

Tampa Bay Inshore Fishing Charter & Guided Fishing Tours Florida Tampa Bay Area Charter Fishing Guide Services with Captain Wade Osborne. Fishing for Snook, Redfish, and Trout. Offering Half, Three Quarter and full day charters in Tampa/St. Petersburg.

Shorter days, and slightly cooler water temperatures have the snook and redfish feeding heavily.
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Summertime Fishing vs Catching

Many people like to go fishing and target redfish, for some it’s just snook! That, my friends, can make for a long day on the water, especially in the summer. If that person is you, well knock yourself out. I don’t have the luxury of spending hours upon hours targeting just one or two species of fish. When you run a fishing charter business, you’re expected to catch fish almost immediately. Most days I do, but some days it can be a struggle.

Me, I’m going catching!

About 70% of my clientele are non-residents, so the majority of them don’t care what species they catch, as long as they have something tugging on the end of their line. So, in the summer I always fish where it’s the easiest, in deep water. Artificial reefs, submerged rock piles, and bridge pilings are usually the most productive when it’s blistering hot outside.

The aforementioned areas are loaded with baitfish, and where there’s bait, there’s fish. The majority of my catch right now consist of mangrove snapper, seatrout, weakfish, Spanish mackerel, black drum, jack crevalle, ladyfish, the occasional cobia and shark. Not all are good table fare, but they are all fun to catch. Kids particularly, love catching any of these fish, most adults too.

Fry baitfish are everywhere, and the biggest of the hatch are the perfect size for mangrove snapper. I nose-hook them while using a size 1 hook for the best presentation. If fishing around the bridges, I’ll freeline them close to the pilings and wait on a strike. When fishing deep-water rock piles and artificial reefs, I use just enough weight to get the bait to the bottom.

Some areas require that you get the bait very close to the structure and let it sit. When that’s the case, I do so during the last part of an incoming or outgoing tide, or when it’s completely slack. Many anglers assume that fish won’t eat if the tide isn’t moving, not true. You just have to do a little extra chumming to get the action going.

I’d say about 90% of the time my clients want to keep some fish for lunch or dinner. That being the case, I don’t even consider going after redfish or snook lately until the fish box is looking satisfactory. Even then, I ask everyone on board if they’re done catching, and ready to go do some fishing?

Afishionado, “Always an Adventure.”

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Three undersized cobia today, and a box full of fish!
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The mangrove snapper are chewing the bottom out of my boat!
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Cody and Anthony caught a mixed bag today.
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