Friday The 13th...

Friday the 13th is associated with bad luck. What does that have to do with fishing? Nothing unless your fishing. I didn't get to go fishing today so I guess it is bad luck...so bad in fact that I didn't get to fish since Tuesday...and probably wont get to fish all weekend either. So it is probably worse luck for me than it is for you, my readers. But just in case it is bad luck, I will make it good luck for you because I am going to talk about some fishing destinations.
Cockroach Bay. Located just south of Ruskin FL. Take I75 to college blvd Ruskin Exit go west. Turn south on US41 and a couple miles down the road you will see Cockroach Bay Rd across from a Circle K. Turn right on Cockroach Bay Rd and the ramp is at the end of the road. Good fishing there. There are lots of snook and redfish to be caught in the mangroves all along the channel that leads out to the bay as well is back in the little passes on your left hand side as your heading out into the bay.
If you choose to head back inside Cockroach Bay (CRB) by going left after launching instead of going out into the bay, there are lots of interesting little passes and coves that are worth exploring. The whole area is either slow speed minimum wake or idle no wake so please observe the signs. By ignoring them you are only hurting yourself and the other fishermen in the area because you are spooking fish. And believe me there are a lot of fish in there.
On a strong outgoing tide the current really rips hard out of the channel and the fishing is very good along the mangroves in the channel as well as just outside the mouth of the channel. During the summer months there is also lots of bait to be caught saving you a trip to the skyway or the markers to net bait.
If you head south the grass flats hold lots of trout, jacks, ladyfish and mackerel all the way down to the Port Manatee Spoil Island, which is designated as a Combustion Exclusion Zone and also holds lots of fish. Do not even think of running your motor inside the No Combustion Zone as the security at the port is very alert and will send a boat out to run you off or call the FWC or Sheriff's Office. Push poles or trolling motors only.
If you head north out of the CRB channel there are several passes along the shore line as well as the mouth of the Little Manatee River. These passes can be very productive as well with lots of snook and redfish and trout on the deeper flats. In the winter explore the backwaters inside these passes. This area is known as Little Cockroach Bay. Pay attention to the depth. On low tide there is not a whole lot of water in there and you could be stranded for hours waiting for the tide to bring the water back.
There are also fish inside the Little Manatee River all the way back to the US41 bridge and probably farther but I have never been past it.
I'm not gonna give up any specific honey hole spots but if you explore, you will find them. Look for areas where water is funnelled and the tide is moving well. Also look for points, bends, coves, oyster mounds, mangrove islands, any kind of distinguishing terrain feature is worth checking out. Of course that rule would go for any area being fished.
Good Luck I will get back to fishing again next week and hopefully I can put up some interesting action packed fishing reports to keep you coming back.