Fishing Reports

May 2023

As Springtime closes out, we welcome summertime in which is a great time to target migrating species that roam our Gulf waters of Tampa Bay. Some of the sought after species people target are Tarpon also known as the silver king, Spanish Mackerel, Cobia, and Triple Tail… As numerous bait pods cruise down our gulf and pour into Tampa Bay, these targeted species follow the bait schools. What is really cool about this time of year is, if you time it right on the new and full moon, we get something called a crab flush in which all the water goes out of Tampa Bay and with that brings baby crabs that go out with it… Since the tide pushes all of them out of the bay Tarpon stage up at ambush points picking up these tiny morsels for an easy meal so they can fatten up to get ready for their yearly spawn. If Tarpon is not your thing you still have Cobia and Triple Tail, you can target  hitting the buoys and markers that are setup through out the Bay area. As far as Spanish Mackerel just look for bait pods thrashing and birds diving to hunt down these fish which make for a good meal day of or smoked fish dip which is my personal favorite. Tight lines and have fun!

October 2023

Fishing in Tampa Bay during October

If you are looking for a great fishing destination in Florida, you should consider Tampa Bay. October is one of the best months to fish in this area, as the water temperature is comfortable and the fish are active. Here are some tips and tricks to help you catch more fish in Tampa Bay during October.

– Target the right species. Some of the most popular fish to catch in Tampa Bay during October are snook, redfish, trout, tarpon, and kingfish. Snook and redfish can be found in the mangroves, flats, and docks, while trout and tarpon can be found in deeper waters. Kingfish are usually found near the mouth of the bay or offshore.
– Use the right bait. Live bait is always a good choice for fishing in Tampa Bay, as it attracts more fish and mimics their natural prey. Some of the best live baits to use are shrimp, pinfish, mullet, and pilchards. You can also use artificial lures, such as spoons, jigs, plugs, and soft plastics.
– Follow the tide. The tide plays a crucial role in fishing in Tampa Bay, as it affects the movement and behavior of the fish. Generally, the best time to fish is during the incoming or outgoing tide, as this creates more current and oxygen in the water. You can also look for areas where the tide creates eddies, rips, or breaks, as these are likely to hold more fish.
– Hire a guide. If you want to make the most of your fishing trip in Tampa Bay, you should consider hiring a professional guide. A guide can help you find the best spots, provide you with the right equipment and techniques, and ensure your safety and enjoyment. You can find many reputable guides online or through local fishing shops.

June 2023

As we head into the summertime, you can expect fishing to heat up along with the weather. This time of year, we like to start our trips early since the water temps are high, and the storms come through Tampa Bay by late afternoon times primarily. As the weather heats up, so does the fishing and some of the targeted species we will go after will be, Spanish mackerel, snook, redfish, tarpon, snapper, grouper, triple tail, sharks, black drum and cobia. Pretty much the wide variety of species is open if you can time everything just right. Our trips would be consisted of hitting the flats early depending on the tides and throw cut bait which consists of thread herring, pinfish, and pilchards along the mangrove tree shadow line where the fish like to sit in cooler water and ambush their prey. As the weather heats up our go to is to find moving water since at these points it will be a little cooler for them to lay in. At times if we find our self in the middle of the day where the day is the hottest, we will target deeper water and bridges since these areas will be more suitable temperature wise due to deeper water and shade provided by the bridges. We cover all areas, from south shore, Ana Maria, Egmont key, ft Desoto, St. Pete, Tampa Bay, Safety Harbor, and Clear water to find the best possible bite for you. If tarpon is your things, these majestic creatures will still be around as they work their way back from being off shore from spawning, starting their reverse migration pattern going back south. So take your pick on what you want to target and give us a shout, we will be more than happy to accommodate you on your dream catch or even if it’s just a nice relaxing day on the water you’re looking for. Until then tight lines and calm seas, go catch them up!

July 2023

Summer time here Tampa, Florida continues on as temperatures reach into the high 90’s. Thus, in return brings our water temperatures up as well which means tactics change and so does the species that we target through out the year, During these hot times fishing is still great though targeting Redfish, Snook, Trout, Spanish Mackerel, Mangrove Snapper (Grey Snapper), Triple Tail, Sharks, and Black Drum. During the summer time these species roam our Tampa Waters in search of food and refuge as they start to migrate in Fall time except for the common residential species such as the Redfish, Snook, and Speckle Trout whom happen to live in our estuary through out the year, One of the reasons these species come into the Bay area is largely due to the amounts of fry bait that has the tendency to show up after the Pilchards (scaled sardines) lay their hatch and head to deeper water again, This Fry bait, in which we call the hatch grows up in a matter of months and works really well even when small. When using the fry bait you can except to get on the mangroove snapper pretty well hitting up the Tampa Bay reefs and wrecks we have around the area. While fishing these reefs and wrecks, you can start chumming a lot of the fry bait to start attracting other common species such as sharks and Spanish Mackerel making it a great day of fishing. One thing I looking toward to coming into August and September will be the schools of Redfish that start to prowl our flats areas in search of these Pilchards that will be roaming in the bay for the months to come. So even though the weather is hot so is the fishing, just switch up the tactics and have fun!