New Years Trout Tampa Bay

Happy New 2012 started with a double header back to back charters starting at 8am then picking up a new group at 1pm. The morning could not been any more beautiful with slick calm waters and a pretty sunrise. Bait (live greenbacks) were once again very easy to gather. {%image_id=24126%}At this time a year ago I was having to purchase shrimp for most trips. And while shrimp is a great bait it's the greenbacks that are taking the big gator trout. My anglers today 2 Father Son Teams Stewart and Trip and Tom and Cale had a plan for first, biggest and most fish. We were targeting spotted sea trout in 4-6' water a grass flats just a short run from O'Neill's Marina in the Ft. Desoto area. Locals will remember just 6 years ago we had a devastating Red Tide the decimated the trout population. Today the population is flourishing. Stewart had the first trout but it fell off prior to getting into the boat. {%image_id=24127%}You all know the saying if its not in the boat it doesn't count! The action was steady from the start. We would catch 4-5 trout then the action would slow and I would let us drift to another section of sandy potholes. Rigging was 3' of fluorocarbon leader with 1/0 circle hooks 3' under a float. {%image_id=24128%} As it was time to head back Tom spotted a shark and watched it hammer his bait. The drag began to scream and a few minutes later Tom had bragging rights on the largest fish a 3' Bonnethead shark. {%image_id=24129%}Tom and Cale won the overall fish count 21-19. Great group of guys and young men. Captain Steven Markovich