While Tampa Bay is known for its world class fishing year round, most people are surprised to learn that the ocean’s tides can actually affect where and when to go fishing, as well as what types of fish are biting. Knowing this information can be critical for successful fishing in Tampa Bay. There are more to tides than just high vs. low. Knowing what a tide is can actually inform you on which fish will be biting. Ocean tides are affected by the gravitational pull of the sun, moon, and Earth. Most importantly, tides are determined by the position of the moon to the Earth. Because the Earth and the moon are constantly moving around one another, this causes a constant movement of high and low tides in our oceans. Florida’s west coast sees a high tide about twice a day year round, but the time in between these tides can vary season to season. The sun can enhance the moon’s gravitational pull when the sun and the moon are aligned, creating higher tides than normal. These are referred to as spring tides and during the winter months in Florida, we experience four, fast moving tides a day. This quick back and forth pattern of high and low tides occurs when there is a full moon or new moon. Most game fish tend to move inshore with these high rising tides and our captains love to target Snook and Redfish for this reason. The sun can also diminish the moon’s gravitational pull when the sun and moon are at right angles to each other. This is referred to as a neap tide and it creates lower than normal high tides. These tides occur during quarter moon phases and it causes very slow and minimal water movement. Some fish, such as Flounder, Red Snapper, and Grouper, are more easily targeted during neap tides because the lack of current helps keep your bait in the strike zone longer. Sometimes a low tide can go so far out that it is below sea level. This is called a negative tide and, despite the name, it can actually create great fishing conditions. When the tide becomes this low, some fish end up getting stuck in bays, estuaries, and mangroves. This depression causes a natural lack of access to deeper water, so the fish in that area tend to gobble up any food they can find, including your bait. The best fish to target during these tides are Snook, Redfish, Flounder, Jack Crevalle, and Ladyfish.

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the ocean Not a sea creature was stirring, not even a dolphin. The rods were hung by the gunnel with care, In hopes that Captain Steven soon would be there. The snook were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of greenbacks danced in their heads; And grouper under the skyway, and grunt in their reef, Had just settled their brains for a long winter's keep. When out in the bay there arose such a clatter, They sprang from their beds to see what was the matter. Away to the bait they swam like a flash, Tore open the lures and scarfed down the stash. The moon on the water of the new-fallen tide, Gave a luster of midday to fishes that hide. When what to my wondering eyes did appear, But a giant redfish and many tiny silver snappers. With a blue Crevalle boat so lively and quick, I knew in a moment he must be Captain Brophy. More rapid than Cobia his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name: "Now, Mackerel! Now, Hogfish! Now, Permit and Flounder! On, Snapper! On, Tarpon! On, Sheepshead and Puffer! To the top of the water! To the top of the surf! Now reel away, reel away, reel away all!" So up to the surface the coursers they swam, With the boat full of fish, and Captain Drew, too — And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the waves The splishing and splashing of each little fin. As I drew in my line and was turning around, Down the gunnel Captain Dakota came with a bound. He was dressed all in white, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with seaweed and bait. A bundle of fish he had flung in his ice chest And he looked like a captain that’s been put to the test. His eyes — how they twinkled! His hands, how messy! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a sunburnt cherry! His sharp little knife was covered in scurf And the beard on his chin was as rough as the surf. The end of a hook he held tight in his teeth, And the net, it encircled his head like a wreath. He had a tanned face and a little surfer belly That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly. He was chiseled and fit, a right jolly young elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself. A wink of his eye and a sweep of his net Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the ice chests, then turned with a jerk; And laying his finger aside of the throttle, And giving a nod, up the river he drove. To the Poseidon team he gave a whistle And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard them exclaim, ‘ere they drove out of sight — "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

Tampa Bay is known for its smooth waters and calm seas. A typical day fishing in the bay will bring minimal waves and sunny skies. However, fishing in Florida comes with its challenges. When the forecast calls for a tropical storm or hurricane, Poseidon Charters gets all hands on deck (pun intended) to prepare for the worst. Here are a few steps we take to ensure the safety and well-being of our captains and boats when there’s a storm heading for Tampa Bay. Preparation of the boats. First and foremost, we make sure to store any loose items that are on the boat, including fishing rods, casting nets, and even seat cushions. Anything else that is not able to be stored will be tied down. We then cover the electronics to protect against rain damage. Our next step is to take the boats out of the water due to the impending storm surge. Surprisingly, our biggest enemy during a storm is typically the rising water levels and flying debris, not necessarily the strong, gusty winds. Depending on the severity of the storm, our boats will either go into the mangroves to be put on lifted docks, or, if the hurricane is projected to be a category two or higher, the boats will be put on a trailer and taken inland to ride out the storm on dry land. Watch the weather closely leading up to the storm. In the 24 hours leading up to the hurricane or tropical storm, we watch the weather very closely in order to stay ahead of it in our preparations. We typically move or take the boats out of the water 24+ hours before the storm track is projected to hit Tampa Bay. This gives us ample time to finish all necessary preparations, get the boats out of the water, and ensure that our friends and family are safe before the storm ever makes landfall. After the storm. Once the worst of the storm has passed, we check on the docks before putting the boats back in the water. This allows us to make any repairs to these structures immediately before we are having to step foot on them, potentially saving us from causing an avoidable accident. We also put our Poseidon Charters sign back up, take our equipment out of storage, and begin preparations to get back out on the water. Tropical storms, hurricanes, and even severe thunderstorms are not to be messed with. We take each weather phenomenon seriously to ensure the safety not only of our crew and boats, but of our clients and guests as well. By preparing beforehand and taking every precaution necessary, we are able to get back out on the water doing what we love as quickly as possible. Now let’s go fishing!

While we think the best thing to do in Tampa is to go fishing, there are so many other amazing places to see and activities to experience around this beautiful, waterfront community. Below are our top three recommendations for things to do AFTER your fishing trip with us around Tampa Bay. Keel Farms, located in Plant City, FL, is 45 minutes from Little Harbor Marina, but well worth the drive! Family-owned and operated, this restaurant triples as a winery, brewery, and micro-farm. Bring your whole family and let the kids play on their outdoor patio and feed the animals. From their pub-style food made with fresh ingredients, to their award-winning Keel & Curley wines and craft agrarian ales and ciders, there is something for everyone at this little slice of heaven. Topgolf, deemed the “Ultimate in Golf, Games, Food, and Fun”, is located in Tampa, FL, just minutes away from the marina. Step off the boat in the afternoon and step into an incredible night at Topgolf, where you get to try your hand at golf (with a twist) while enjoying a yummy meal and taking in the nightlife atmosphere. This is a great activity for the whole family and will be sure to bring out the kid in all of you! Just got off the boat but still itching for more time in the water? Check out The Florida Aquarium! Their exhibits foster entertainment and education that the whole family will love. Take your time exploring Florida’s natural aquatic and terrestrial environments, as well as others from around the world. They are also at the forefront of protecting and restoring our “blue planet” through conservation, research, and rescue efforts. We hope that when you come to Tampa, you will enjoy more than just the amazing fishing. From a whole array of restaurants, wineries, nightlife, and family-friendly activities, there are so many places to fall in love with here… AFTER your fishing trip, of course!

Our captains not only love catching fish, they are enthusiastic about eating it, too! This week, Captain Steven shares some of his tried and true recipes for cooking up your catch. Try one or all three methods and thank him later! Grilled Tripletail Have your captain filet your triple tail catch at the dock. Once home, prepare your fish by squeezing half a lemon over the top and sprinkling on Weber’s Mediterranean Herb seasoning. Let it cook on the grill over a low flame for about 20 minutes, or until the meat starts to split open by itself. Your triple tail should peel off the skin like it wasn’t even there. Serve over a bed of rice and enjoy! Fish Fry This recipe can be used for any fish you catch out on Tampa Bay! Heat peanut oil up to 350 degrees. Cut your filleted fish into bite size nuggets and coat them in Louisiana Lemon Fish Fry breading. Drop the nuggets into the oil and fry until they are golden brown and floating. Blackened Fish Just like with our fish fry, this recipe can be used with most any fish! Heat up your black iron skillet and coat the bottom with a cooking spray appropriate for your pan, just enough so that the fish doesn’t stick. Coat your fish in either Old Bay Garlic & Herb or Classic Old Bay seasoning. Toss a small slab of butter into the skillet. Add the fillet once the butter has melted down about half way. Let your fillet cook for about 30 seconds and then flip it over for another 30 seconds. Your fish is cooked all the way through when the meat turns white and starts to split apart. Whether you caught triple tail, snapper, grouper, or even shark, you will definitely want to try at least one of Captain Steven’s mouth-watering recipes. Just ask your captain at the end of your trip which method of cooking he recommends for your catch. Let us know if you’ve tried any of these cooking tips!

Here at Poseidon Fishing Charters, our motto is “more than just a charter”. We strive to ensure that our customers have not only an amazing fishing experience with us, but that they feel safe and secure out on the water as well. Safety requirements that our team regularly meets include the strength and reliability of our Crevalle Bay boats, our Coast Guard certified safety equipment and captain training, and our commitment to monitoring the unpredictable Florida weather before every trip. Poseidon Charters chose Crevalle boats because we trust that their boat building process ensures maximum safety for our guests. Their unique “injection mold” means that each boat is built in one piece. This makes them the safest boats on the market because it significantly reduces the risk of leaks. We are also sticklers of upgrading and performing preventative maintenance on our boat and all of its features frequently. If we do have something break or malfunction, we schedule servicing immediately. Besides completing a Coast Guard safety check every year, we also maintain our required safety gear on board each one of our vessels. This includes fire extinguishers, bilge pumps, a VHF radio, and an abundance of life jackets, including adult and children sizing to be sure that everybody on the boat is protected. Additionally, all of our captains are CPR-certified and are trained to be prepared for any marine emergency. Our captains also make sure that they check the unpredictable Florida weather, radar, and tides before each charter, and are competent enough to know when conditions will not be enjoyable or safe for our guests. From our trustworthy boats to our Coast Guard certified captains and safety equipment, our charter guests can rest assured that they will have not only an amazing fishing experience with us, but, more importantly, an incredibly safe one as well.