By Neil Taylor, Times Correspondent
Saturday, May 21, 2011
What's hot: Casting soft, plastic lures to redfish is providing great action. The late arrival of bait schools has them feeding more than usual.
Tackle: Use a 7-foot spinning outfit with a thin diameter and braided line, 3-foot fluorocarbon leader and jighead of one-eighth to one-fourth ounces. Take multiple rods, have the second one rigged with a weedless jighead and find an area of shallow, thick turtle grass or a lot of floating seagrass. Plastic tails of 3-6 inches work well. The 3-incher is a swimbait style, the 6-incher a sleeker, jerkbait style. The 3-incher is best if you see baitfish, the jerkbait if fish are looking for shrimp.
Techniques: Locate redfish in depths of 2 feet or shallower in areas with a substantial seagrass bottom. Move slowly and quietly. Make long casts and work the lures just above the bottom. When a thump is felt, set the hook and the battle is on. The action has been best around sunrise and sunset.
Neil Taylor charters kayak fishing trips in the Tampa Bay area and can be reached at (727) 692-6345 or strikethreekayakfishing.com.