Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 78F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph..
Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 78F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.
This young angler displays a juvenile tarpon before releasing the pint-sized silver king. The baby tarpon have been in Riviera Bay, spillways, creeks and canals well inland. They take live shrimp well.
This angler headed to the Gulf beaches for big snook after taking a number of smaller males in Tampa Bay. Some of the big females remain in the surf as the summer spawning season comes to a close. They like large live baits. To protect them, the season is closed until September and snook must be released.
This young angler displays a juvenile tarpon before releasing the pint-sized silver king. The baby tarpon have been in Riviera Bay, spillways, creeks and canals well inland. They take live shrimp well.
This angler headed to the Gulf beaches for big snook after taking a number of smaller males in Tampa Bay. Some of the big females remain in the surf as the summer spawning season comes to a close. They like large live baits. To protect them, the season is closed until September and snook must be released.
Capt. George Hastick (727-525-1005): Capt. George reports some of the easiest fishing now is for Spanish mackerel, which are schooling around bay tripods, markers, and jetties as well as deeper, open waters below the Gandy Bridge. Gold or silver spoons work well. Mangrove snapper remain around rock and oyster bars near mangroves, but also under the bay bridges and on artificial reefs. The snook are plentiful and willing feeders around flooded mangroves. He’s been getting them in the mood by chumming with live sardines, which also attract the occasional redfish. A live sardine, threadfin or cut bait will take them. Lots of jacks have been schooling and fish to 3 pounds have been common. Plenty of bonnethead sharks to about 3 feet are in the bay.
Capt. Chuck Rogers (813-918-8356): Capt. Chuck says the hot days mean early morning and evening have been more productive in the bay. If the hottest part of the day can’t be avoided, the shade of the bridges is a good place to be. Lots of mangrove snapper are around the pilings of all the bridges. The Bayside Bridge is a good bet for black drum. Capt. Chuck believes the sudden appearance of the drum there may be due to the construction going on at the nearby Howard Frankland Bridge. The drum take live shrimp, fiddler crabs or chunks of blue crab threaded onto white bucktail jigs. Lots of sharks to about 6 feet long are in the bay, and a little chum is all it takes to draw them in.
Gandy Bait & Tackle (813-839-5551): Zack says anglers are reporting a few more trout in their catches. The fish are around the drop-offs to deeper water at the edges of shallow flats. Snook and reds have been around mangroves and channels, with the bite turning on when the water is moving well. There have been several reports of anglers taking black drum around the pilings of the Gandy Bridge. Fish 18 to 30 inches have been the norm. Mangrove snapper are around about any kind of structure, including rocks, pilings, docks and the reefs. Some tarpon are being hooked at night fishing live baits in the light line under the Gandy Bridge. A few tarpon have been hooked during the day at the Bayside Bridge.
Riviera Bait & Tackle (727-954-6365): Jacob says he’s getting some good reports from anglers taking small snook and some juvenile tarpon in Riviera Bay. Live shrimp and pinfish have been working best. Some of the snook were caught on pearl-white soft-plastic jerk baits. It’s been noted by some that a 15- to 20-pound-test mono leader is drawing more snook strikes, as anything heavier is making the fish suspicious. Those fishing canals and backwater at first light are seeing some of the best action of the day. Fish deeper water in the heat of the day, and if there is structure all the better for mangrove snapper.
Mitch's Bait & Tackle (727-826-0265): Ryan said he hasn’t seen as many anglers as usual over the past week due to the hot days. Those who have been fishing are concentrating on deeper cuts and channels, where they are finding some snook and reds working the drop-offs. The bay bridges and docks have been giving up some nice mangrove snapper and increasingly, more sheepshead. Live shrimp is best. Water temperatures in the shallows have been running to 90 degrees or more during the day. Some may want to try their luck after dark when conditions are more bearable for anglers and fish.
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