Plenty of options in Tampa Bay

What’s hot: Fall fishing is in full swing with an incredible bite throughout Tampa Bay. Redfish, Snook and big gator Trout have been as good as I

Mercury Pro Team Member Capt. Jim Lemke

have seen over the past few years. Big schools of Redfish are roaming almost every flat. The Snook are along the shoreline at low tide, the mangroves when the tide gets high. Artificials and live baits are working well. Soft plastics in natural colors seem to work the best. When working the flats, I also have been catching lots of trout, jack crevalle, silver trout and ladyfish.

Tip: Bait is still on the bay area flats in 1-4 feet and at the Skyway. As the water continues to cool, the fall and winter bite will only get better.

Jim Lemke charters out of Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater and can be reached at (813) 917-4989 and at [email protected].

fly fishing Tampa bay

What’s hot: With the water temperature dropping to the low 80s, snook, redfish, and trout are moving slowly to winter haunts like the canals around Apollo Beach, Simmons Park and Bishop Harbor on the south shore. On the other side of the bay, fish areas like Weedon Island and the American Legion flat. North of the Gandy Bridge, fish the docks in the Culbreath Isles area. And north of the Courtney Campbell, look around creek mouths and the canals. Don’t count out night fishing at those same areas with dock lights.

Tip: A good way to cover a lot of ground is casting a gold or silver spoon or a jerk bait. If you have a livewell, catch bait and go to the desired area. Throw a handful or two out and see if any fish pop the bait.

Jim Lemke charters out of Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater and can be reached at (813) 917-4989 and at [email protected].

Lefty Kreh once said “..now..we fish for Islamorada bone fish to practice for Tampa bay red fish..”

Tampa bay is consider by many as the toughest place to catch a redfish on fly. It seem quite appropriate that the largest saltwater fly fishing event in the US is held right here in Tampa Bay.

The Salty Fly 2013 presented by Hell’s Bay Boat works had a full roster of 80 teams that sold out in 41 minutes of open registrations. We had a waiting list of 45 teams that did not make it on the roster this year.

We had anglers who traveled to the Salty Fly from the Cocoa Beach, Miami, Jacksonville, and the Florida Keys. Out of state participants came from Texas, Georgia, Massachusetts and as far away as Oregon. We had fly anglers from beginners to seasoned veterans competing for the gold. Factory reps and sponsors were also present to do a some networking as well as having some fun getting some fishing time in.

The three months of anticipation concluded at Little Harbor resort on Saturday Feb 23rd 2013.

If the tough spooky Tampa red fish wasn’t enough to contend with, the anglers battle cloudy skies, and 15 mph winds for the first part of the morning. In the afternoon the skies cleared up allowing for some sight fishing finally.

When it was all said and done, the size of the fish this year were bigger than ever. The winning total of two red fish one trout by Team Slayer, Chris Cenci and Cody Chivas came out to 82.5 inches. This won them cash and prizes but mostly bragging rights for the being the top dog of the biggest saltwater fly tournament in existence.

The runner up team of Conch Republic made up of Fred Hannon and Justin Cauffman hit a respectable 73″ mark. Rounding out third is team Carbon Marine with Joe Welbourn and Dave Preston with 71.25″.

Congrats to all the teams and especially our sponsors for making it all happen. 2014 the roster opens to 100 teams and promise be bigger and better than ever. Mark it on your calendar Feb 21st to the 23rd 2014.

Winner team Slayer Inc.

2nd place team Conch Republic

Carbon Marine with the 3rd place finish

Strip and Feed research with 4th place finish.

The biggest salt water fly fishing event of it’s kind.

“World’s Largest Saltwater fly fishing tournament”

Update November 28th 2012: Salty Fly open up for registration midnight Wednesday Nov. 21st. Within 41 minutes, we are sold out with over 70 two man fly fishing team. Currently there is more than 20 more teams on the waiting list.

The Skinny

FEBRUARY 22 to 24th, 2013

Salty Fly is a low barrier to entry, grass roots tournament design to encourage the interest and growth of saltwater fly fishing. The demographics is wide ranging. The
first sold out roster included beginners, local fisherman, guides and even contestants flying in from far away as Colorado and Boston.

The 2011 inaugural Salty Fly old out within three days of registration being open. We had 40 two man teams and double digit waiting list. We opened the
tournament up for five more teams for a full roster of 45 two man teams on tournament day.

The 2012 event sold out in a record 9 hours of open registration. Sixty five, two man teams were paid up for the contest with more than 20 more teams on the waiting list.

The first Salty Fly is currently the largest salt water fly only tournament in the world.

With the change in venue the Little Harbor Resort we can expand the event even larger for 2013.

• Friday will be the Fly fishing film showing and party
• Saturday will be the tournament
• Sunday will the G.Loomis hosted Poling and casting time trials