Guide bites
Capt. Chuck Rogers (813-918-8356): Capt. Chuck reports water temperatures in the bay are at an ideal mark, with mid-70-degree numbers. The Spanish mackerel are loving it, with schools moving in as far as off Rocky Point above the Courtney Campbell Causeway. Keeping them off the line while trout fishing has been a problem. To target them, use a long-shank, light-wire hook and a live sardine for bait. His anglers have landed fish up to 23 inches. Trout fishing is decent on grass flats and along the drops in 6 to 7 feet of water from the Gandy Bridge area north, with live sardines working well. Hard bottom and shell also is holding them. The sardine schools are on the grass flats but scattered, so it will take time chumming them close enough to net. Starting before sunrise is the ticket. The snook are running along mangrove lines on high water, where there also are a few reds to be taken, though he hasn’t spotted them in schools. Both are taking sardines well. Lots of sharks are around, including some large bull sharks.
Capt. George Hastick (727-525-1005): Capt. George says Spanish mackerel are about everywhere he goes in the bay. The deeper, open water, in deeper grass, artificial reefs and range markers, have been producing fish up to 20 inches or more, with live sardines and spoons taking them. Trout have been on the grass beds along the Pinellas side of the bay in 5 to 6 feet of water, but also in residential canals where the center depth is at least 6 feet. Live sardines and Sea Shad soft-plastics on jig heads are taking them. More snook are hanging around mangroves when the water is high, where the redfish also are gathering. The snook have been working well up into the mangrove roots but can be coaxed out by tossing some live sardines out for chum. He’s been doing well on both from Pinellas Point to about the Gandy Bridge. Lots of jacks to 3 pounds are around and sharks are showing up in bigger numbers. One of his anglers jumped a nice spinner shark on a recent trip. Cobias are a possibility, though his anglers have only hooked one over the past week, an undersized fish that measured 27 inches. They often are found hunting baitfish around range markers.
Tackle shop roundup
Gandy Bait & Tackle (813-839-5551): Zack says many customers are encountering tarpon in the bay, with bridges the primary places they are seen. The Gandy and Bayside bridges have been holding them, along with deeper pockets of water near channels. More snook are being hooked in recent days, as fish are on the outside points, mangroves and especially around docks. Some nice reports of redfish are coming in from anglers working flats, rocks and oyster bars, with Weedon Island, Picnic Island and rocky shallows on the Hillsborough side of the bay producing them. Many report schools of live sardines on the shallow grass beds. Netting them early in the day is the ticket. The sheepshead action is tapering off, but the mangrove snapper fishing is getting steadily better. Bridges and docks are holding plenty, though there are lots of undersized fish to contend with. For the big ones, fish the deeper channel edges where there are rocks. Live shrimp is the best bait. A few anglers have landed black drum from bridge pilings, including under the Gandy.
Riviera Bait & Tackle (727-954-6365): Jacob reports that the Tampa Bay bite is on. Redfish action has been hot, with great catches between Weedon Island out to Fort De Soto. Gold spoons have been a top producer. Snook are on the mangroves and venturing out onto flats to feed. Large, live shrimp, live pinfish and scaled sardines are great bait choices. Mangrove snappers are all over the bay bridges, with the largest closer to the mouth of the bay, with more moving in closer. Fish that are 15 inches long and larger are being reported. Spanish mackerel seem to be everywhere, with live sardines taking as many as one could want. Kings also have pushed into the bay, with fish at the Skyway Bridge, on the artificial reefs and in the ship channels. The shipping channel in the Gulf and the floating buoys have been reliable places to find them. Pompano fishing in the Gulf passes is turned on, with many reports of good catches. The Bayway bridge to Tierra Verde is another spot that’s been giving up lots of them. Live shrimp, ducktail or Doc’s Goofy Jigs are popular bait choices.