Tampa & Pass-A-Grille Fishing Guide

Spent some time in Arizona, so I’ve been a little lax with posting-the picture is from a full day trip on Miss Pass-A-Grille a couple weeks ago. Nothing to write home about, but there were a few decent gags and reds, along with the usual assortment of grunts and triggers. The big fish went to those using live pinfish- which will factor into my preparations for next trip.

Fishing has been slow, with the cooler water and the fronts that have been pushing through. I’ve been seeing a few snook hanging around Blind Pass, and the action at Merry pier has generally revolved aroud small grouper, flounder, and the few remaining snapper (odd- they were all gone this time last year). I can report my first sheepshead in a LONG time - a nice 14″ fish which was released unharmed. And I saw a big one lurking around the bait house pilings- a good 6+ pounds. Yup, just about time to break out the fiddler crabs and tube worms.

The new year came in with a bang- after some glorious December weather, a strong winter cold front blew through a week ago. Pre-front, EVERYTHING was biting- I saw a bunch of 16 to 22″ gag grouper caught in Pass-A-Grille, and they were slamming live pinfish with gusto. Macks, flounder, even sea bass were biting enthusiastically.

Once the front came through, everything shut down. The water temperature dropped from 71 degrees down to 54 over the space of a couple of days. All the fish were in shock. I still managed to get down to the Merry Pier yesterday before the Bucs debacle, but there wasn’t much happening. A small grouper here, a little snapper there. VERY slow. Maybe, after this weeks warm-up, things will be back to normal next weekend. Here’s hoping…