Shark in or around Tampa Bay

[Devodud]

I was planning on fishing around Tampa in July and I was hoping to catch a shark or two, any suggestions on where to go and what kind of cut bait i should use?


I would either be paddling a 17' canoe, or landbased/wading (I would rather not catch a 7' lemon/bull while wading)

[DaveR]

Clam Bar. Cut mullet.

[Devodud]

would I drop my baits on the grass flats or in the deeper water off of the bar

[DaveR]

Eastern edge and let the tide take them where they will. BTW. Don't Fuc$%g wade!

[pcronin]

If your going to be on the beach, and have a decent amount of line to play with (500+yds). Use that canoe to drop some big cut baits or live ones (lady fish work nice and are always a good time on light tackle) as far as you have line for off the beach. (I like to drop about 300yds off with my 6/0 penn). Get a nice chair, a full cooler and keep and eye and ear on that rod! But make sure you have the right equipment to handle and revive a large shark before you drop that bait!

[Devodud]

I would prefer not to paddle off of an actual beach with the canoe, if a wave crashes over it I am swamped, it does not have the advantages of having scupper holes.

So I am guessing I would dangle my bait under a balloon for the clam bar

As far as tackle i would be able to use anything from a large penn Spinning outfit with 65 powerpro all the way up to a 9/0 penn with 150 mono, although I would prefer not to use the larger stuff out of the noe.

[mauso1]

make sure to tie the balloon on well...turtles eat them. There are lemons and assorted others near 4th st / I 275 and Gandy beach area but not much tidal flow to take out a bait unless you get real close to the bridges in case you didn't want to go all the way to clam bar. The canoe would work well as a drop bait boat there if it ain't real windy very small likelyhood of any swamping.

[mauso1]

I would rather not catch a 7' lemon/bull while wading

true that..there are some even bigger ones at the spot I just mentioned..

[Todd]

make sure to tie the balloon on well...turtles eat them.

They do make biodegradable balloons. Please do not use the other type.

[Devodud]

any suggestions as to where I can buy biodegradable balloons in town

[Todd]

any suggestions as to where I can buy biodegradable balloons in town

I think Holy Mackerel Tackle sells them.

[shamus]

Damn Todd haven't you figured out that Rik gave you a box of condoms yet !! How many ribbed ballons have you seen ?

[Vlap]

Eastern edge and let the tide take them where they will. BTW. Don't Fuc$%g wade!

A few summers ago I was wading out there after shark fishing. I had walked a ways from my kayak and turned around to see a full grown bull shark swimming between me and my kayak. A shouted whisper got cooknfish's attention and I watched his eyes go wide as he spotted the massive shadow swimming by me.

Lucky for me the shark did not feel like investigating the fat man wading or I might not be here today to tell the story.

[1okbyme2]

"Lucky for me the shark did not feel like investigating the fat man wading or I might not be here today to tell the story."

That is exactly why I have never waded. I stay in my kayak......

[The Below Average Angler]

My wading days are long gone as well..................................getting a hit from a stingray cured me of wading. I'll stay in my boat, thank you.

[Rik]

I was wading with a buddy one morning in northern Sarasota Bay just as the sun was peeking over the horizon. I was walking towards where he was standing in waist deep water when about 25 small fish tried to climb up on his shoulders. Then a 6 foot shark ran into him. Just swam right into him. Made him jump which spooked the shark big time. The shark did a big flip to turn around and run which soaked my buddy.

We spent the rest of the morning drifting deeper flats fishing from the boat....