Great Hammer Head

Heavy tackle fishing for grouper in the middle of Tampa Bay.

Tampa Bay offers many types of fishing and one of my favorites is bottom dropping cut bait for gag and red groupers on the rock piles. The fight is unforgettable. They will make you cry for mama to come and help as your eyes bug out, your face turns red and your grip on the rod tightens as it bends into a half moon twards the water. You have to lean backwards and put your body weight into it to keep them out of the rocks and breaking the 80 lb test leader. All this and cranking madly on the 40 conventional reel as sweat pours down your face. Man it’s worth it! Some folks troll for them but I love that first hit that you don’t get when trolling.

Unlike the always warmer waters of Key West, Tampa Bay waters do get cold which can limit catching the big ones that migrate south for the winter. One had to be creative. Big snook, trout and redfish are scarce due to low, low tides leaving the shallows dry and desolate. I go the the artificial reefs and ship channel edges for big Gag groupers ranging up to 30 plus inches. They fight like hooking a freight train trying to stick to the bottom and cut the line in the rocks where they live. You have to mad dog mean and stronger than them to get them to the boat. And it’s worth it! Warning if you can’t lift 30 pounds this is not for you.