BigBendFishing.Net

Its that time of year again when most college kids go out boozing and looking for some crazy stuff to get in to. Not so much in my case. My friend and I headed down to south Tampa Bay for a couple days on Anna Maria Island for some intense fishing in between working charters in Upper Tampa Bay. We started out Monday morning chumming up the greenbacks aka whitebait off the flats with the castnet, then hit up some nice mangroves looking for hungry snook. After only catching a handful of snook with one keeper in the livewell we set out in search of the monstrous schoools of reds laid up near Ft. Desoto State Park. The bite was slow at first with the slack tide, but as soon as the water started moving the fish started eating...and eating...and eating..the frenzy went on for about an hour. Total reds to the boat probably went into the mid-20's biggest to 34". I spent today over in Orlando checking out the new Vantage 19 ft. flats skiff from East Cape. http://www.eastcapecanoes.com/ Those guys really know how to build a quality custom boat. Here are some pics:

Sweet fish! Thanks for posting.

That's some gooduns. Nice trip.

Nize catch, but at your age, I was chasing another form of whitefish during spring break. I did practice catch and release though.

Good looking fish, FNG. I really wish I had a Spring Break.

I looked at a Lostmen very hard before deciding on the Maverick I have. great little boats. Ass wetters, but other than that, great little boats. Good report!

Nice reds and report

BAD BEHAVIOR wrote:I looked at a Lostmen very hard before deciding on the Maverick I have. great little boats. Ass wetters, but other than that, great little boats. Good report!

I need all the info I can get..thanks but as for as ass wetters you mean spray?

Nice fish, Pat

Great trip! I am going down next month fishing with Chew On This Charters and looking forward to fishing the Tampa Bay area. Hope we do as good as ya'll.

Nice trip.

Nice reds, tell Kevin Jeff says Hey.

Thanks for pics.