Charter fishing for seatrout in Tampa/St. Petersburg with Captain Wade Osborne is productive year-round. However, during Florida’s cooler months seatrout converge in deep-water grass flats and canals. If you’re looking for shear numbers of fish in the two-pound range, this is a great time of year. Some seatrout in the three to four-pound range, frequently called “yellow-mouths” are caught regularly.
Drift fishing lush grass flats while working a fly, plug or jig can be very productive also and it’s an easy way to find schools of seatrout. Once a school is located, circling the area repeatedly can yield 20-40 fish an outing just by using artificial baits. Another method is to anchor the boat and use live shrimp or scaled sardines. This technique usually produces the largest seatrout.
As the waters warm, seatrout move into areas with a good tidal flow to stay cool and ambush bait-fish. Scaled sardines and small pinfish become the live bait of choice; however, flies and lures still catch plenty of fish.
Seatrout charter fishing is consistent year-round and is a great species to catch while introducing children to fishing. Long cast are not required and with the constant action these fish provide, young anglers develop a passion for the sport right away.
