Today I took my hour lunch break on the Hillsborough River, which meanders behind my office. Though the Hillsborough River is freshwater, it is brackish to salt where I fish it, due to its proximity to Tampa Bay.
The water was very clear today and I didn't see a single fish in the water, save a single mullet that splashed nearby. The clarity of the water made me think that the tide was outgoing (and therefore more freshwater than salt), and that might explain why there were few fish to be found. I was fishing with my green and gold Yo-zuri Crystal Minnow.
I didn't catch anything.
The scarcity of fish was vexing for me. In times previous that I have fished the river, I have spotted snook, redfish, pinfish, and big schools of jack. There is a major construction site on the other side of the river, which makes me wonder if there are toxins coming from the site, or if the noise and vibration (which is substantial) is scaring off the fish.
The one benefit of being able to fish on a day with at least three feet of water transparency is that I was able to mentally chart where the deep holes, oyster beds, and lure stealing hazards are. I was also able to practice a variety of retrieval styles and see what effect the movement and speed had on the Yo-zuri.
There is a cold front coming through at the end of the week, and I'm hoping that some gamefish will seek refuge in the warmer waters of the river. Stay tuned.
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