Tampa Bay is squarely in its fall transition, and the bite showed it this week. Cooling mornings and steady northeast breezes pushed big schools of whitebait and glass minnows onto the flats and around the bridges, drawing predators tight to current edges. Water temps slid into the low–mid 80s, with the best action on early high tides and the first of the outgoing. Snook fired on live greenbacks free-lined along mangrove points and potholes at first light from Weedon Island to Fort De Soto. Work the shadow lines and let baits sweep naturally—most fish were mid-slot with a few overs. Redfish patrolled shallow grass and oyster edges; cut pinfish, fresh ladyfish strips, and gold spoons produced solid upper-slot fish on the top of the tide. Look for mullet schools on the flats near Picnic Island and the back lakes—reds were underneath. Trout were consistent on 3–5 ft grass with scattered sand holes; soft-plastic paddletails and popping corks with live shrimp did the damage. Mangrove snapper stacked on the Skyway fender systems and channel markers; drop small pilchards or shrimp on 20–25 lb fluoro leaders for quick limits. Sheepshead activity ticked up on docks and rock piles with fiddler crabs or shrimp bits—expect more as fronts strengthen. What worked this week Live greenbacks; chum light to keep fish interested 25–30 lb fluoro for snook/reds; 15–20 lb for trout/snapper Early high tides and moving water around bridge pilings, points, and creek mouths Gold spoons and bone-white topwaters at dawn on wind-blown shorelines Looking ahead: As the first real fronts approach, expect the redfish schools to tighten and the snook bite to hold on mangrove points and creek drains. Keep an eye on water clarity after any blow; downsize leaders and hooks if it clears up.