Hey you fine folks down around Tampa and Clearwater areas! My cousin is heading down that way with his yak this coming week. He only has about a day and half and said he's going to chase fish around the flats at Fort DeSoto.

Do any of you have any suggestions as to what the fish may be currently hitting on, or possible honey holes you could put him on? His lifetime goal is to catch 40 species of fish this year since it's his 40th birthday year. He's from Alabama and as hooked on kayak fishing as I am. Funny part is, we've never met! We're going to take care of that this year though.

Anyway, ANY help pointers, tips, etc you can share with me will greatly appreciated. Do any of you guide or fish that area?

Thanks!

Why isn't he on YakAngler so he can ask himself?

LOL Good point, I'll ask him to join up, but in the meantime....

Well we have Bill, Greg, Rob, Steve, Steve, Keith and more right in that area... One of them for sure should have some info.

YakSushi wrote:


by golly i will remedy that !!! thank you pam for reaching out for me ! yall, i am chris but better known as FERAL or FERAL ONE in the few campfires i frequent. i spend most of my time on the chattahoochee or the flint chasing just about any critter willing to stretch a line. i have a wilderness commander 140 and a jackson cuda but the cuda will be coming with me to clearwater. i am not a salt novice , but by no means am i "good" at fishing the flats. this will be my first time in the kayak as well. i have the typical swimbaits, grubs and gulp products as well as a handful of hardbaits that i will be taking. like Pam said, this is about multiple species. not monsters sought on this trip. if it is 3 fingers long it will get its portrait taken and be released with nothin' more than a smile on my face. i am planning on the fort desoto area ( i am camping there 2 nights) i will have 1 full day of fishing and possibly a few evenings. evenings will be near my hotel close to the courtney campbell causeway. probably stalking street lights or one of the area piers. i have tied up a few shrimp flies to add to the arsenal so if i fail, it will not be because of lack of gear or effort !!! thanks yall for your help and thank you pam for inviting me to your cyber campfire !

Welcome to the site! You have quite a goal for this year, wish you the best of luck in achieving it!

I do have some experience with fishing the Ft Desoto area but I haven't fished there in a while.This time of year I would expect to catch Redfish and Trout. Use soft plastics such as the Rip Tide 3" mullet in the Golden Glow or Root Beer Gold flake color. Slow retrieve over the grass and pot holes."Pot Hole" sandy area surrounded with grass.If your not getting Trout in the shallow water move to a depth between 4-6 ft. You will find them. As for the Redfish in the area you will just have to find them.They seem to move around a bit. Your best bet would be to hire a guide that has been fishing the area lately.

Welcome Feral One...

Welcome to YakAngler!

Welcome aboard!