Tampa Fishing Report

April 7, 2017

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – Despite the wind anglers are still able to make it on the water during weather windows this week. Redfish and Trout are the usual contenders making an appearance for anglers so far. Reds are schooled up, especially towards Sarasota, but are becoming more scattered once we reach Tampa. Searching shallower water will be the key to finding them. The Trout on the other hand seem to be just about everywhere and ready to take a live Shrimp or an artificial such as MirrOlure. Snook are consistent into this week. Passes and beaches are holding the best sizes. There are a few Pompano that may be caught as bycatches on the beaches. They aren’t picky in terms of what they are eating, so anglers heading out shouldn’t have a problem loading up. Structure is holding the typical Snapper and Sheepshead up to 15 miles out. This comes as no surprise to most anglers. Beyond this Kings are beginning to make their way in close and should progress on this trail throughout the season.

OFFSHORE – The weather has made fishing tough into this week however when anglers are able to make it offshore they are finding a decent bite of typical, seasonal fish. The bottom bite is producing Grouper (don’t forget to check your Pro Angler App for updated regulations) and Snapper beginning in 30 feet of water. There hasn’t been many anglers heading farther offshore however Kings, Spanish and Cobia are a bit more accessible for anglers this week. Searching the causeway and trolling live bait has been the ticket to hook Kings up to 20 pounds out of Clearwater. The farther out you can go the better the sizes will be however there are a few smokers mixed in the bunch. You’ll find the Spanish are schooled up so when you find one you’ll likely find many. If you find anglers are chumming, they are likely targeting Cobia in areas like Sarasota. A bit of chum and some live bait is a killer combination to land them from the reefs. We hope to see these fish fire up once conditions are improved.

For more fish slamming info download the Pro Angler App for hundreds of locations that provide you with more of thousands of GPS Hot Spots, local Pro Reports, What’s Biting, Tide & Weather data along with many more amazing Pro Angler features.

A big THANK YOU to this week’s Pro Report contributors – Discount Tackle Outlet, Capt. Greg of Abbott’s Family Charters, Gandy’s Bait & Tackle, Hubbard’s Marina, Barracuda Bob’s Bait & Tackle, Tarpon Fishing Outfitters, and Pete’s Pier Inc! Find their contact information on the Pro Angler App!





Pro Angler Team

This Feature Report has been brought to you from the Clearwater Region. View your local report, loads of Hot Spots and other great features when you subscribe to the Pro Angler App on your iOS or Android device!

INSHORE – The bite is fairly typical for this time of year. On the flats we are seeing some Cobia. They have been caught around Anclote. Small Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) are swimming with few keepers. Spanish (Mackerel, Spanish) are on the flats. Snook (Snook, Common) and Redfish (Drum, Red) are inshore.

OFFSHORE – There is still some decent action offshore this week. Grunts (Grunt, White) and Sea Bass (Sea Bass, Black) are swimming near shore. Farther out the Ajs (Jack, Amberjack Greater) and keeper Red Grouper (Grouper, Red) have been caught. Sharks are beginning to move in.

BAIT REPORT – There is plenty of Whitebait around.


Tarpon Trading Company
727-937-1488
www.tarpontradingcompany.com

March 24, 2017

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – The Pompano bite is really hot right now along the jetties of John’s Pass and the beaches however it is a bit scattered towards Sarasota and thicker towards Clearwater. These Pompano are great eating too, and bite best in the early morning or just before dark. The Snook action has been hit and miss, they really fire up but then as quickly as they start it ends. We’ve seen some monsters caught inside the passes along the beaches. The Mackerel have made their way into the bay and around bridges.
Trout, Snook, Tarpon and Redfish are beginning to get fat again. Reds can be found chasing bait around mouths of rivers and particularly in Longboat taking Shrimp. Trout are more preferring artificials such as MirrOdines, Vudu Shrimp and DOA Shrimp. Sheepshead and Drum have been caught on structure taking Fiddler Crabs or Shrimp on a knocker rig.

OFFSHORE – There is something to catch just about everywhere offshore this week. From 50-70 feet offshore there have been great catches of both Kings and Cobia. We are seeing them consistently caught from Sarasota to Homosassa.
On the bottom, the Grouper and Snapper are doing extremely well, although keep in mind what regulations are in place for them. Grouper can be targeted with Shrimp or Squid while Snapper prefer Sardines or Whitebait while chumming heavy. Ajs are providing a great catch and release bite for anglers out for some fun.

For more fish slamming info download the Pro Angler App for hundreds of locations that provide you with more of thousands of GPS Hot Spots, local Pro Reports, What’s Biting, Tide & Weather data along with many more amazing Pro Angler features.

A big THANK YOU to this week’s Pro Report contributors – Capt. Greg of Abbott’s Family Charters, Gandy Bait & Tackle, Hubbard’s Marina, Barracuda Bob’s Bait & Tackle, Tarpon Fishing Outfitters, and Pete’s Pier Inc! Find their contact information on the Pro Angler App!





Pro Angler Team

March 17, 2017

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – Nothing is out of the ordinary so far this week. Although the bite is typical we can’t argue with how good it’s been. As Snook are swimming the rivers anglers are targeting them under the lights and also around passes. Keep an eye out as they will make their way to the beaches very soon in the Clearwater area.
Redfish and Trout are almost a never-fail catch. Slot Reds are loving areas such as Terra Ceia or around spoil islands. Trout are opposingly in deeper waters around edges of the grass flats, spoil islands and occasionally running flats on the beach for warm water pockets. The occasional Pompano and Spanish Mackerel are also on the beaches.

OFFSHORE – The variety of fish is improving this week. Anglers are finding fish nearshore, offshore on the bottom, just about everywhere! If you can find a weather window to head farther offshore the Tuna bite is turning on. Blackfin can be found roughly 30 miles out of Sarasota while if we look to St. Petersburg the Yellowfin are active farther on the long range overnight trips. Moving closer in, the Kings are biting well. A few of them can be caught mixed in with offshore Tuna however most of them are more towards the shipping channel areas chasing live bait. Of course, Cobia aren’t far behind as they are even closer holding up on nearshore wrecks and reefs.
The typical bottom bite is nothing new for anglers in the area. Snapper are beginning to gear up for an aggressive feeding coming very soon. The sizes are expected to be great. Grouper and Hogfish are consistently turning up while specifically targeting them, especially in the Clearwater area. Scattered Sea Bass and Grunts may be caught as well.

For more fish slamming info download the Pro Angler App for hundreds of locations that provide you with more of thousands of GPS Hot Spots, local Pro Reports, What’s Biting, Tide & Weather data along with many more amazing Pro Angler features.

A big THANK YOU to this week’s Pro Report contributors – Discount Tackle Outlet, Hubbard’s Marina, Angler 360, and Blue Water Bait & Tackle, ! Find their contact information on the Pro Angler App!





Pro Angler Team

March 10, 2017

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – Snook have a been a little difficult to find in keeper sizes. There has been a lot of catch and release angling from Sarasota up in to Tampa. Try to find moving water and fish to structure just before high or low tide as they move out to feed. Bluefish, Ladyfish and Jacks have been a common bycatch out of the Sarasota area. Trout fishing has been just ok. If you were to pick only one place to Trout fish this week, you might best head to Sarasota where you will also have the opportunity to hook some Flounder while fishing with MirrOlures oddly enough. Redfish have been steady across Florida’s Central West coast. They are especially moving well down the river with Snook near Clearwater and caught or the oyster bars up in Homosassa. Tarpon have been heating up in Tampa Bay. Cobia anglers out of Hudson have been catching fish on the Flats.

For more fish slamming info download the Pro Angler App for hundreds of locations that provide you with more of thousands of GPS Hot Spots, local Pro Reports, What’s Biting, Tide & Weather data along with many more amazing Pro Angler features.

A big THANK YOU to this week’s Pro Report contributors – Economy Tackle Paddlesports, Gandy Bait & Tackle, Fisherman’s Ideal Supply House Tarpon Trading Company, J & J Provisions Inc, Pete’s Pier Inc! Find their contact information on the Pro Angler App!


OFFSHORE – We’re still waiting for King Mackerel to show up here. There is a decent Grouper and Snapper bite on the days you can get out around 10 miles. Best baits to take this week are Sardines and Squid. The Grouper off of Clearwater have been particular to Pinfish. There is also a worthwhile amount of Amberjack on structure off of Hudson.




Pro Angler Team

March 3, 2017

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – The Snook bite has been HOT HOT HOT just about everywhere through Florida’s Central-West coast. Tide direction hasn’t affected the bite, just as long as there’s moving water. There will also be Redfish mixed in with the Snook. Redfish have been a little sporadic to the south, they improve around the west side of Tampa on Greenbacks or cut bait such as Pinfish. You can find them schooled up on both low tide and high tide. Trout fishing has been fairly decent through the day. There has even been a lot of Trout taken on Rapala Topwaters. Pompano anglers have been finding most of their action coming from sandbars in Tampa Bay while throwing jigs.

For more fish slamming info download the Pro Angler App for hundreds of locations that provide you with more of thousands of GPS Hot Spots, local Pro Reports, What’s Biting, Tide & Weather data along with many more amazing Pro Angler features.

A big THANK YOU to this week’s Pro Report contributors – Abbott’s Family Charters, Capt. Justin Lofaro of All American Fishing Charters, Fisherman’s Ideal Supply House, Barracuda Bob’s, Tarpon Fishing Outfitters & Blue Water Bait & Tackle! Find their contact information on the Pro Angler App!


OFFSHORE – You will have to head pretty deep to find any sizeable Red Grouper right now, starting in at least 150 feet of water. Amberjack have been hauled off of bottom structure much closer in while Sheepshead have been on the nearshore structures. There has been a lot of Kingfish around St. Petersburg, we expect this to pick up as the warmer weather comes.




Pro Angler Team

February 24, 2017

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – Despite the weather it seems we can almost always hook a few nice Redfish and Trout. The Redfish are still a bit scattered at this point but if you put some time in anglers should be able to find a few decent fish. Live bait has been the ticket to catch them, with a select few artificials including Spoons and soft plastics in Shrimp patterns working well. Trout can be found in any of the shallower areas from Sarasota all the way down to Homosassa.
Snook are fairly consistent this week as well. They seem to be taking just about everything, however live bait at night is producing well. Sheepshead are beginning to really fire up on structure as usual. In St. Petersburg there are a few reports of Flounder mixed in. They are preferring live bait.
On the surf anglers are finding Pompano here and there.

For more fish slamming info download the Pro Angler App for hundreds of locations that provide you with more of thousands of GPS Hot Spots, local Pro Reports, What’s Biting, Tide & Weather data along with many more amazing Pro Angler features.

A big THANK YOU to this week’s Pro Report contributors – Discount Tackle Outlet,, Hubbard’s Marina, Gandy Bait & Tackle, Armed Anglers, Thunder Party Boat and Pete’s Pier! Find their contact information on the Pro Angler App!


OFFSHORE – Everything is in close this week. Blackfin Tuna are holding up in the deeper Springs this week and can be caught trolling with artificials. On the bottom the Amberjack and Grouper are biting in the same depths. Ajs have had the most consistent bite down the coast this week. As usual, structure is the best place to search for them.
A bit closer in we are finding a productive bite of Snapper, Hogfish and Grunts. The variety of Snapper include Muttons, Lanes and Mangroves. The numbers were great prior to the recent weather and we expect they should pick back up. When anglers can make it farther offshore the bite of Vermilion and Yellowtail Snapper are putting up a good fight.




Pro Angler Team

February 17, 2017

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – From inside Tampa Bay out to John’s Pass there is a good Sheepshead bite. Trout are found near inshore troughs during low tides on Shrimp or Greenbacks fished under a popping cork. The best reports on Snook have come from Sarasota over to St. Petersburg. Live baits such as Pinfish or Shrimp will work well to hook them. Inshore anglers targeting Redfish have had the most success off of docks in the rivers, oyster beds throughout intracoastal waterways. The flats around New Port Richey as well as up near Homosassa will provide anglers with a decent Redfish bite on cut bait and Pinfish.
It’s worth making the trip to Sarasota as the Skyway bridge has been offering up some Cobia.


OFFSHORE – The gulf of Mexico has been kind to offshore boats this week. Amberjack have been fishing well on wrecks for anyone using Sardines. If you are headed out of St. Pete’s, target wrecks in 100 ft of water. Out of New Port Richey you will want to be fishing in 50-80 ft. There will also be an assortment of Grouper and Snapper here as well. Yellowtail Snapper have been biting well on structure in the 30 mile range.
From 7-15 miles, anglers in this region can expect to find Hogfish as well as some small Grouper and Snapper. Triggerfish are spread out on reefs and wrecks as you fish your way into the gulf. Keep in mind that they are catch and release at this time. Nearshore trolling with soft plastics has been productive for King Mackerel.

For more fish slamming info download the Pro Angler App for hundreds of locations that provide you with more of thousands of GPS Hot Spots, local Pro Reports, What’s Biting, Tide & Weather data along with many more amazing Pro Angler features.

A big THANK YOU to this week’s Pro Report contributors – Discount Tackle Outlet, Capt. Justin Lofaro of All American Charters, Hubbard’s Marina, Bait Bucket, Barracuda Bob’s Bait & Tackle, Tarpon Fishing Outfitters, and Bluewater Bait & Tackle! Find their contact information on the Pro Angler App!




Pro Angler Team

February 9, 2017

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – The Sheepshead bite is outstanding in depths of 12-20 ft. Anglers are catching them in the Tampa Bay area in open water on rock piles, at the bridges and on docks. Live Shrimp, Fiddler Crabs and Sand Fleas with a light leader and a small jighead or a number 1 J-Hook is best. Speckled Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) in St. Joseph’s Sound are taking artificials such as the MirrOlure 17MR or the Matrix Shad paddle tail on a quarter oz jighead or 3 / 8 in deeper water. Search 2-6 ft to find them. A few Sheepshead are mixed in but they are a bit more scattered than the bay. Cobia are cruising the flats near the power plants. Look for warmer water and Stingrays. Nice Sharks have also been caught in the area. The Sheepshead and Trout are providing the best overall bite in the bay. Most are 12-15 inches with a few bigger sizes from 17-19 inches. Mangrove Snapper (Snapper, Gray) are chewing well too on every rock pile you can find. PRO ANGLER APP USERS – Tap a fish below to reveal tons of information and tips to catch!






Captain John Rivers Captain John Rivers Inshore Charters
727-313-1781
captjohnrivers@gmail.com www.captainjohnrivers.com

February 2, 2017

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – The Redfish (Drum, Red) are beginning to turn on, especially during the slack low to incoming tide. They are biting throughout the day. They are a bit more active in the morning. Sitting low and moving slow. Before Peak low we are seeing a better bite. A majority of fish have been caught on the incoming tide. Brown colors are working well on the fly. Generally live Shrimp or similar artificials will work. PRO ANGLER APP USERS – Tap a fish below to reveal tons of information and tips to catch!






Tampa Fishing Outfitters
813-870-1234

February 2, 2017

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – The Redfish (Drum, Red) are beginning to turn on, especially during the slack low to incoming tide. They are biting throughout the day. They are a bit more active in the morning. Sitting low and moving slow. Before Peak low we are seeing a better bite. A majority of fish have been caught on the incoming tide. Brown colors are working well on the fly. Generally live Shrimp or similar artificials will work. PRO ANGLER APP USERS – Tap a fish below to reveal tons of information and tips to catch!






Tampa Fishing Outfitters
813-870-1234

January 26, 2017

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – With the unusually warm Winter we are seeing water temperatures as warm as lower 70s. The fish are not in their normal Winter stomping grounds. Good numbers of Snook (Snook, Common) and Redfish (Drum, Red) are on the flats as well as areas that are pre Winter pattern. Speckled Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) are hit or miss due to the cold fronts not being consistent. The numbers are great when they are on. Tidal flow is the key to watch when it comes to fishing for Trout, Snook and Redfish. You must have good tidal flow. Typically it’s the first 3 hours of the incoming or outgoing tide. St. Joseph Sound is producing good Trout near the Spoil Islands. Apollo Beach is holding good numbers of Snook and Specks on the flats. We even caught a Cobia in shallow water while Trout fishing. Look for schools of Stingrays to find them. Sheepshead are on fire! Look for tidal flow and use live Shrimp between 12-25 ft of water. Lighter weights and leaders, even split shots are your best bet. Number 1 J-Hook or Circle Hook are best with Fiddler Crabs, Shrimp or Sand Fleas. Bridges, Jetties and rock bottom are their hiding places. We are expecting a cold front to move in and kick off the Winter bite. Once the water temperatures drop consistently the Snook will slow down but the Trout and Sheepshead will turn on. The fish will be pushed into a Winter pattern and school up a bit more. They are more difficult to pattern when conditions are up and down as they are all over the place. PRO ANGLER APP USERS – Tap a fish below to reveal tons of information and tips to catch!



BAIT REPORT – Live bait is very accessible. Whitebait are around the Skyway bridge.


Captain John Rivers Reel’Em In Inshore Charters
727-313-1781
www.reelemincharterstampabay.com

January 19, 2017

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – We are seeing some decent action into this week. Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) have been caught in 4-5 ft of water while free lining Shrimp or smaller pinfish under a cork. Snapper (Snapper, Gray) has been great on dead or live Shrimp. They aren’t too picky. Sheepshead can be found around docks taking Fiddler Crabs and small Shrimp. They generally hold up on structure. Reds (Drum, Red) are swimming but they are on the smaller side. They aren’t the target of most anglers at this time. We hope to see this bite into the weekend. PRO ANGLER APP USERS – Tap a fish below to reveal tons of information and tips to catch!






Gandy Bait & Tackle
813-839-5551

January 11, 2017

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – Hey anglers! In order to bring you valuable, up to date content such as regulations, GPS Hotspots, and BRAND NEW features the Pro Angler App Pro Reports will be returning the week of January 16, 2017. Please feel free to take a look at last week’s reports for an idea of what’s biting or give your favorite local bait shop a shout! The Pro Angler App looks forward to bringing you lots of exciting changes as we kick off 2017!






Pro Angler Team

January 5, 2017

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – Drum (Drum, Black) and Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) are good around the bridges. Black Sea Bass (Sea Bass, Black) are swimming the nearshore. Redfish (Drum, Red) are still swimming the canals. MirrOlures and Bomber Lures are working well. Soft plastics such as Zmans, DOAs and Paddle Tails are better on the flats. Things are setting into the Winter pattern. PRO ANGLER APP USERS – Tap a fish below to reveal tons of information and tips to catch!






Gandy Bait & Tackle
813-839-5551

December 30, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – With the front moving through we expect the upper bay around Courtney Campbell to be producing on small, simple flies and lures. The Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) are biting well. Peak, low tide is slowing them down surprisingly. Bridges are a great place to search for Snook (Snook, Common) on incoming tide. Gags (Grouper, Gag) are hanging around St. Petes and Clearwater. Thanks for another great year anglers! Pro Angler is looking forward to seeing all of your great catches in 2017!






Tampa Fishing Outfitters
813-870-1234

December 22, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – Sheepshead are hitting Mud Crabs and Fiddlers along the wall. Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) aren’t very big yet. The fish that are around have been pretty pressured. When you can get them to bite, they are hitting medium Shrimp. Snook (Snook, Common) are closed but you can catch and release them. Reds (Drum, Red) are hitting Blue Crabs on flats. Spanish (Mackerel, Spanish) are moving in and schooling up. Wishing you a Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays from the Pro Angler Team!






Sailor Mike’s Bait & Tackle
813-902-9360

December 15, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – The Redfish (Drum, Red) bite is good as it is still warm out. Greenbacks are doing best to hook them. Live Shrimp is a good alternative. Fish the low tide in the potholes. The warm ups in the afternoons is producing the best bite. The Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) are really good in the creeks and creek mouths using a 3.5 inch gulp on a quarter oz jighead with 20 lb Fluorocarbon leader bounced on the bottom during a moving tide. Search the Courtney Campbell North to the Howard Franklin Tributaries. Little Tarpon are down by the Port of Tampa running thick. They will hit anything from DOA to Greenbacks. Look for the fishing to continue until there is cold weather back to back. The bite is still great. Spanish (Mackerel, Spanish) are still swimming the middle grounds. Kingfish (Mackerel, King) are still in the Egmont Key Channel. Grouper (Grouper, Gag) are on until the end of the month. Troll plugs or drop bait around the edges of the Shipping Channel by the Skyway. PRO ANGLER APP USERS – Tap a fish below for additional tips and tricks!






Capt. Justin Lofaro All American Fishing Charters
813-406-9722
justinslofaro@gmail.com www.flallamericancharters.com

December 9, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – The Snook (Snook, Common) bite is still going very well during the wee morning hours around John’s Pass and Madeira beach hitting large live baits or slow moving lures. Remember, as the water cools they get more and more lethargic. Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) bite is hot inside the pass on the shallower flats and mudflats, as the water cools they like to stay in the warmer shallow water areas. Drum (Drum, Black) are very active inside the pass and along the beaches being spotted often feeding on Crabs of all sizes. Handfuls of Pompano (Pompano, Florida) are being caught as well but they have slowed a bit compared to their frenzied fall bite. PRO ANGLER APP USERS – Tap a fish below for additional tips and tricks!

OFFSHORE – Nearshore the octopus are here in force! Many of the local Crab fishermen have told us and now we’re starting to see them often on our hooks and anchors when fishing the nearshore and offshore waters. This means that they are great bait this time of year for Grouper (Grouper, Gag)! Many of the fish we catch come up spitting up octopus of all sizes. Hogfish are steady in the nearshore waters, not many were caught this week but that was mainly due to weather not allowing us to get out there to them. This time of year it becomes very important to time your trips around the weather the best bite is right before the front or a few days after it once weather stabilizes. Farther offshore we had another great long range overnight 39 hour fishing trip at Hubbard’s Marina! We caught some truly monster Gag Grouper with the largest over 30lbs! The big Red Grouper (Grouper, Red) were cooperative as well, along with plentiful monster Mangrove Snapper, Yellowtail (Snapper, Yellowtail & Snapper, Gray), Kingfish (Mackerel, King), and unfortunately lots of Amberjack (Jack, Amberjack Greater) we had to catch and release! The Kingfish seem be hanging around the deeper offshore waters despite the dip in temperatures.

BAIT REPORT – Mullet are swimming this week. They can be found in the bayous and passes.


Hubbard’s Marina
727-393-1947
www.hubbardsmarina.com

December 2, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – The weather has the Mullet on the move, this means big Snook (Snook, Common) are following them around the bayous and passes. This is the time of year big bait gets you monster Snook inshore. The Redfish (Drum, Red) are on the move as well, it’s a great time to get out and find you a monster school of fish heading out of the bays or back through. We’re seeing them offshore too in huge breeding or traveling schools. Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) are active where they can stay warm especially around the dock lights at night, find and underwater light and let your lure sink a little deeper than you would in the summer and remember to move it slower as water has the fish a little slower. However, deep around that warm light you will find you some willing participants ready to take a bit of your bait. Nearshore we had a lull in the Kingfish (Mackerel, King) there at the end of last week and early this week but lately they have picked up quite a bit it seems as some water pockets of water are being found between 7-12 miles. They have definitely moved off the beaches but we’re still seeing them in the near shore waters surprisingly. The Hogfish bite has been incredible though with numbers as high as nearly 20 keepers on half days and nearly 30 keepers on all days and the charters get near limiting out with them. It’s been great to see such a strong push of these yummy hogfish! PRO ANGLER APP USERS – Tap a fish below for additional tips and tricks!

OFFSHORE – The 39 hour fishing trips have started back up thanks to the Florida fisherman returning to action after its long nearly three month dry dock. Our first trip out of the yard smashed the fish, tons of big Gags, Red Grouper, Scamp (Grouper, Gag & Grouper, Scamp & Grouper, Red), Mangroves, Yellowtail (Snapper, Gray & Snapper, Yellowtail & Snapper, Vermillion), Tuna (Tuna, Blackfin), Kingfish (Mackerel, King), Vermilions and more! Then the Second trip was a bit bumpy but still smashed the Snapper with a monster push of Yellowtail Snapper that was pleasantly surprising for this time of year with some in the 3-5lb range. Kingfish action around the middle grounds and elbow is outstanding right now they were even hitting dead Sardines being dropped down or reeled up by guys using Grouper rigs. Those who switched to the deadly Kingfish rig or Jig head with a piece of wire trailer and treble hook into Sardine floated back into current were catching the Kingfish personal limits with ease. The Mangrove Snapper bite on both trips was steady, solid and filled with monster Mangroves some nearly the 8-9lb range!

BAIT REPORT – Mullet are swimming this week. They can be found in the bayous and passes.


Hubbard’s Marina
727-393-1947
www.hubbardsmarina.com

November 23, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – Sheepshead, Mackerel (Mackerel, Spanish) and a few Reds (Drum, Red) are running Picnic and Weedon Island. Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) are showing up. Tripletail are on markers. Snook (Snook, Common) are scattered here and there into the canal. DOA with pearl white paddle tails are best in the early morning while rootbeer with chartreuse tail is better later on. PRO ANGLER APP USERS – Tap a fish below for additional tips and tricks!






Gandy Bait & Tackle
813-839-5551

November 18, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – The Snook (Snook, Common) bite has been good near Picnic Island and South. There are a tons of fish about 25 inches long. Redfish (Drum, Red) and Trout can be caught Snook fishing. To target the Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) anglers are moving up in the bay North of the Howard Franklin on bars and shallow flats in 4-5 ft with grass. If it’s a sandy, rocky bar with grass behind it that’s what you’re looking for to free line Greenbacks and chum the Trout. We are seeing limits of good, female Trout. We are also throwing MirrOdines for them. Redfish are biting on the incoming tide. Use cut bait or live Greenbacks. You can catch a few on artificials however the water is so clear and the fish are so spooky that it’s tough. The docks from the isles down to Snell Island are holding good numbers of Redfish, Snook and Trout. If you hit the mid, moving tide with Greenbacks and or Shrimp you can have a good day on the docks anytime now. In the middle of the bay the Mackerel (Mackerel, Spanish) bite is going off. You can easily get limits along with Flounder (Flounder, Southern) and the inshore Grouper (Grouper, Gag) bite that is picking up. Search the Skyway and Egmont Key Channel trolling plugs or dropping knocker rigs. PRO ANGLER APP USERS – Tap a fish below for additional tips and tricks!



BAIT REPORT – The Whitebait in Tampa are easy on the Flats from Georgetown to Bayside. There are tons of bait that is useable.


Capt. Justin Lofaro All American Fishing Charters
813-406-9722
www.flallamericancharters.com justinslofaro@gmail.com

November 10, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – It’s a good time to fish Tampa. The Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) have been great as of late. Freelined Greenbacks are hitting them on the edges of the flats and they are also holding on rocks and oyster beds as well. Chum with live Greenbacks and you should see them pop. Target them on the moving tide. They are from 18-23 inches. You should be able to limit out. Snook (Snook, Common) have been good in the same area. Concentrate on the full outgoing tide using the same setup. There are quite a few slots and tons of shorts. Chum for them as well. While on the flats, split shotting into the sandy potholes will produce a few Flounder (Flounder, Southern) on every flat. The Tripletail are here. If you head out when it’s not windy use a 1/O circle hook on 30 lb leader with a Pinfish or Greenback you can search the crab pots or markers for them. Cobia are beginning to show up again. Redfish are more scattered this week. Live bait is working best around the Mullet schools during a moving tide. Cut Pinfish are also working well. Again, Chum with Greenbacks. Spanish (Mackerel Spanish) and Bluefish are in the middle of the bay. PRO ANGLER APP USERS – Tap a fish below for additional tips and tricks!



BAIT REPORT – Mullet are being chased by hungry Redfish around the bay.


Capt. Justin Lofaro All American Fishing Charters
813-406-9722
justinslofaro@gmail.com www.flallamericancharters.com

November 3, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – Sheepshead and Redfish (Drum, Red) are beginning to show up. The Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) have slowed down. Search for the Reds around the island using big Shrimp or Pinfish under a cork or free lined. Outgoing tide is best. PRO ANGLER APP USERS – Tap a fish below for additional tips and tricks!

OFFSHORE – Mangrove Snapper (Snapper, Gray) have been caught in 50-60 ft on the reefs this week.

BAIT REPORT – Greenbacks are at the bridges along with a few schools of Mullet. Pinfish are running thick.


Sailor Mike’s Bait & Tackle
813-902-9360

October 27, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – Redfish are schooled up. There are still plenty around and they are biting well. The past cold front has pushed them in. They are taking cut Pinfish, Cut Ladyfish or Cut Threadfins. Find the Mullet to find the Redfish or go out in low tide. You need a moving tide to catch them. In the Redfish schools are decent Trout that are taking cut bait. The cold front pushed them in too and they will continue to get better. They seem to be in Spring patterns in the bars, ledges, potholes and oyster bars. We are floating cork on a 20 lb leader with a small Pinfish or a belly hooked Greenback. The Snook bite has turned on recently and anglers are free lining Greenbacks for them on a good outgoing tide or strong incoming tide. Redfish (Drum, Red) can be targeted the same way. The high outgoing tide is best for Snook (Snook, Common). Flounder (Flounder, Southern) have been biting on sandy potholes on flats or sandy depressions or dropoffs, almost the same places as some of the Trout (Seatrout, Spotted). Add an 1/8 to 1/4 oz split shot to your Trout setup. Freeline it out and let it stay on the bottom. Pompano have moved in around the bridges and deep cuts. Wacky Jigs on a Pompano rig will hook them. The King (Mackerel, King) bite is not steady yet but they are coming in and should turn on soon. They will bite from the Skyway out to Whistler. Cobia are showing up now. They are scattered and holding on Rays. Search structures and markers to find them as well. PRO ANGLER APP USERS – Tap a fish below for additional tips and tricks!



BAIT REPORT – Mullet are still running thick.


Capt. Justin Lofaro All American Fishing Charters
813-406-9722
justinslofaro@gmail.com www.flallamericancharters.com

October 20, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – The Snook (Snook, Common) bite has been good. A lot of Redfish (Drum, Red) are showing up. There are tons and they are schooled up. The Mangrove Snapper (Snapper, Gray) bite is on fire as well. You can find them on any rock piles or structure. They are all slot and larger fish. Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) are plentiful but there isn’t a great bite on them at this time. Once the temperature cools down they will improve. PRO ANGLER APP USERS – Tap a fish below for additional tips and tricks!

OFFSHORE – The Grouper (Grouper, Gag & Grouper, Red) have been a bit slow into this week. Surprisingly the King (Mackerel, King) bite has not turned on. Once the water temperature drops a bit more we should see things heat up.




Tampa Fishing Outfitters
813-870-1234

October 14, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – Flounder (Flounder, Southern) are still hot inside the Pass, This past week John Coger and his daughters were fishing off the beach behind our shop catching monster Flounder on live Shrimp. Snook (Snook, Common) are biting well when the water is moving they are loving the live free lined Pigfish. Redfish (Drum, Red) action inside the back bays really heated up too it’s just been a great time to get out on the water. The weather has been steady allowing the fishing to remain steady but the breeze has made casting difficult and sight fishing tough. PRO ANGLER APP USERS – Tap a fish below for additional tips and tricks!

OFFSHORE – Mackerel (Mackerel, Spanish) and Kingfish (Mackerel, King) are dominating the near shore fishing news right now. The Mackerel are big right now and the Kingfish are starting to be plentiful. They were all school sized Kings but now we’re seeing the bigger 20-40lb models show up just in time for tournament season. Hogfish bite has been very good this past week today’s all day trip brought in some monster 3 and 5lb Hogfish biting on live Shrimp the largest was even randomly caught on a squid cube. Grouper (Grouper, Gag & Grouper, Red & Grouper, Scamp) bite nearshore got a little picky during this past week’s high pressure but in deeper waters it has held steady if we had people able to make it out there through the breezy more bumpy conditions we have seen this past week. Offshore the 12 hour extreme Flying HUB two trips have been doing very well offshore still unfortunately we haven’t been able to get out there this week due to the breezy and bumpy high pressure conditions we have seen this past week. The East winds have allowed us to fish nearshore but it’s been more than 3-5 or 4-6 foot this entire week offshore beyond 30-40 miles. Due to this our last long range trip was at the end of last week before the storm but the fishing was great showing us big Gag Grouper, monster fat Red Grouper, plentiful Scamp, steady big Mangroves (Snapper, Gray) and the occasionally Yellowtail (Snapper, Yellowtail) with big Kingfish biting at our flat lines. We are hoping this trend will be waiting for us when the weather finally lays down offshore.

BAIT REPORT – The Whitebait is still very thick around the pass and inside the bay and also on the beaches and they have gotten big starting to be the perfect size for live bait fishing.


Hubbard’s Marina
727-393-1947
www.hubbardsmarina.com

October 6, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – Redfish (Drum, Red) have been great in the area by the Island. They are schooled up. A few Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) are starting to show up. Snook (Snook, Common) are good around the bridges on high tide. Search the shorelines as well. They are also swimming around and South of Picnic Island. PRO ANGLER APP USERS – Tap a fish below for additional tips and tricks!



BAIT REPORT – Sardines and Pinfish are in the bay. Search structure on sunny or overcast days.


Gandy Bait & Tackle
813-839-5551

September 29, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – The Snook (Snook, Common) are still fired up in the passes and around the jetties. Tarpon are at the Skyway and Gandy Bridges. There are schools of Reds (Drum, Red) at Picnic as well as around Tarpon Key. In upper Tampa Bay the Redfish bite is on fire. Big Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) are still on the deep grass flats. Flounder (Flounder, Southern) and Pompano (Pompano, Florida) are on the beach. PRO ANGLER APP USERS – Tap a fish below for additional tips and tricks!

OFFSHORE – Everything’s on fire and deep. Fish are 100 ft and deeper. Mangroves (Snapper, Gray) are in 80 ft however the bigger sizes are in 125 ft. Big Gags (Grouper, Gag) can be found in 150 ft.




Tampa Fishing Outfitters
813-870-1234

September 22, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – A lot of Mangroves (Snapper, Gray) are inshore and offshore. Snook (Snook, Common) are steady. Reds (Drum, Red) have returned well. Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) are biting well. They are in deeper water as temperatures are still warm. Search cool water at the drop offs around 10-12 ft. The flats are still hot in the sun. Sharks (Shark, Bull & Shark, Blacktip) and Drum (Drum, Black) are also swimming. There’s still some Tarpon around. PRO ANGLER APP USERS – Tap a fish below for additional tips and tricks!

OFFSHORE – In the gulf we are seeing Snapper (Snapper, Gray), American Reds (Snapper, Red), and Grouper (Grouper, Gag). Check out the Pro Angler Hot Spots for some new numbers out there.




Gandy Bait & Tackle
813-839-5551

September 16, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – Good sized Snook (Snook, Common) are running around the bridges and doing well particularly at night. The flats are holding oversized Reds (Drum, Red) that are taking paddle tails and other swim baits. Topwaters are working early in the morning or late in the evening. There haven’t been a lot of Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) around. Tarpon are rolling at the South end of the Skyway. PRO ANGLER APP USERS – Tap a fish below for additional tips and tricks!






Tampa Fishing Outfitters
813-870-1234

September 9, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – The Redfish (Drum, Red) are schooling on and off the flats. They can be caught on low tide using cut Ladyfish or cut Pinfish which are easier to throw in front of the school. As soon as they see it, one will go for it. In the schools there are also Jacks (Jack, Crevalle). There are also good Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) in the southern part of the bay. They are taking free-lined Greenbacks. In the deeper flats you can use a split shot. Mangrove Snapper (Snapper, Gray) are biting well in the same areas on rocks structure and throughout the shipping channel using a 1 oz knocker rig. A few Flounder are showing up in the same areas as Trout. The bars and structures will be good with Greenbacks with a split shot. The water is still clearing up from the storms and the clarity is improving. It’s Snook (Snook, Common) season and they are holding structure. Search the incoming or outgoing tide with heavy leader. Pinfish are great to catch them. PRO ANGLER APP USERS – Tap a fish below for additional tips and tricks!






Capt. Justin Lofaro All American Fishing Charters
813-406-9722
justinslofaro@gmail.com www.flallamericancharters.com

September 1, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – The current weather system is expected to change the fishing patterns quite a bit. The fresh water is going to push the Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) down as they don’t like a lower salinity. The Redfish (Drum, Red) will probably jump up into the bushes on high tides. Target them like you would any other day but you’ll need clean water. If you find Mullet that’s going to mean the water a little cleaner. Usually the Whitebait will get pushed to the deeper parts of the flats and near range markers. If they leave completely , don’t worry as they’ll come back in a couple of days. PRO ANGLER APP USERS – With this system pushing through most of Florida, we expect a lot of wind and tough conditions. Most of the fishing from last week should fire back up once the storm passes. Expect to see the rainfall cool off inshore waters. This will help some of the fish that prefer cooler conditions. Stay informed on all the coming weather systems using your Pro Angler App!






Capt. Justin Lofaro All American Fishing Charters
813-406-9722
justinslofaro@gmail.com www.flallamericancharters.com

August 26, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – Inshore the Snook (Snook, Common) has the hot bite around the jetties and the passes. They are still on the beach early in the morning or late at night using big Plugs such as Bombers. Big Shrimp or Pinfish are a great alternative. Mullet or Ladyfish can be dragged on the bottom. Redfish (Drum, Red) are hot along the mangroves. Picnic Island has been hot as well if you get there before 10 am. Once the water is hot the bite shuts off. Look for moving water. The Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) are in the deep holes. Tarpon are hanging out on the Skyway with Kings (Mackerel, King) that are scattered.

OFFSHORE – Offshore is on fire when you can get there. Big Snapper (Snapper, Gray) are from 100-125 ft of water. Good sized Gags (Grouper, Gag) are in 125-150 ft. If ya can get deep, the bite is great.

BAIT REPORT – The flats are holding Pinfish, Whitebait and Pilchards. The Skyway and bridges will have Whitebait and big Threadfins.


Tampa Fishing Outfitters
813-870-1234

August 18, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – This week we are catching Pompano (Pompano, Florida) and Redfish (Drum, Red). A good push of Redfish have moved in and are providing good action. The Redfish are from the island to the North. Big breeder fish are on South Shore in the middle of the bay. We are targeting them half way through the incoming or on the dead, low tide. The low tide makes it easier to see the schools. The full, high tide pushes them into the bushes making them a bit more work. The best baits have been cut Pinfish, live Pinfish and Greenbacks. The Snook (Snook, Common) bite is also doing well. We are catching them around schools of Redfish. They are biting on the good, afternoon, outgoing tide. The Mangrove (Snapper, Gray) bite is still decent around the bridges and some of the wrecks. Red October is coming up so book your Redfish Trips with All American Fishing Charters Now






Capt. Justin Lofaro All American Fishing Charters
813-406-9722
justinslofaro@gmail.com www.flallamericancharters.com

August 11, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) and Redfish (Drum, Red) have been caught all over the bay. Snook (Snook, Common) have also come up. Mangrove Snapper (Snapper, Gray) and Drum (Drum, Black) are around the shark strip. Live bait has been working best.

OFFSHORE – The charters are doing well with the Grouper (Grouper, Gag) this week.

BAIT REPORT – Pilchards are in the bay. Pinfish are by piers and bridges. They can be caught during the day. There are also some Threadfins around.


Sailor Mike’s Bait & Tackle
813-902-9360

August 4, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – It is hot and rainy! Plan for short days. Snapper (Snapper, Gray) are in the bay on most of the bridges and rock piles and you can catch limits. There’s also lots of Cobia coming up to check out the chum slick. Tarpon are turning up on the slick as well. The rain has cooled the water down in certain areas where Redfish (Drum, Red) are just beginning to move into the bay. The Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) bite can be good but they are pretty deep. Anglers are still Mackerel fishing quite a bit and there is still some success with Kings (Mackerel, King). There are tons of Snook (Snook, Common) on the beaches that can be caught on good live bait. Grunts, Croakers, Pigfish and Threadfins are working to hook them.

OFFSHORE – The Grouper (Grouper, Gag & Grouper, Red) fishing is slow this week.

BAIT REPORT – Bait is improving. Threadfins and Pilchards are mixed. Late season Ballyhoo are in the bay.


Tampa Fishing Outfitters
813-870-1234

July 28, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – We are catching big Mangrove Snapper (Snapper, Gray) in 25-30 ft of water on hard bottom. Rock ledges and obstructions are good. Drop down using a 1 oz knocker rig with a number 1 circle hook with 30 lb leader on flats rods. The boat has been getting our limits anywhere in the bay, especially in deeper water. 1-2 inch live Pinfish or Greenbacks are working well. Spanish (Mackerel, Spanish), Sharks (Shark, Bull & Shark, Blacktip) and big Bar Jacks (Jack, Bar) are near the shipping channel out on the humps. Inshore we are seeing Redfish (Drum, Red) again on cut and live bait. Look on the incoming tide for the best fish. Snook (Snook, Common) are in the same area. There are still plenty of juvenile Tarpon to keep anglers busy.






Capt. Justin Lofaro All American Fishing Charters
813-406-9722
justinslofaro@gmail.com www.flallamericancharters.com

July 22, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – The fishing has been steady in this area as of late. Snook (Snook, Common), Drum (Drum, Black) and Snapper (Snapper, Gray) are all over the bridges and structures. Live bait including Greenbacks, Shrimp and Pinfish are the Go-To.

OFFSHORE – Offshore the Red Grouper (Grouper, Red) are biting. Kings (Mackerel, King) are still hanging around in 50-70 ft.

BAIT REPORT – Threadfins and Pinfish are swimming. Glass Minnows are everywhere. Pinfish are on the flats.


Sailor Mike’s Bait & Tackle
813-902-9360

July 15, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – Inshore- The Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) bite just won’t quit around John’s Pass dock lights at night. Also, the big Snook (Snook, Common) are feisty at the dock lights edges ambushing the bait where they can no longer see the predators waiting. Redfish (Drum, Red) bite along the bottom is great as well using slow moving storm or gulp jigs reports local angler, Wade Thomas from Seminole. The whitebait has been thick around the pass as well come late afternoon coming into the pass with the tide and really starting to get cast net size. We’re looking forward to a great late summer bite as the whitebait heats up as the primary food source for our local inshore species. The Flounder (Flounder, Southern) are really doing well in the deeper sandy areas off the hot grass beds the mud minnows or big select Shrimp weighted to bottom is best. However, we love the DOA shrimp so we can cover larger areas of the sandy bottom. Near shore- Hogfish are starting to come up often again on the half day fishing trips using live shrimp for bait. The nearshore Mangrove Snapper (Snapper, Gray) bite remains very good throughout the summer and they love the light tackle live Shrimp technique along with the Hogs making it easy to target both species. The Mackerel (Mackerel, Spanish) are still around but more spread out near shore were seeing the Kingfish (Mackerel, King) still as well but they seem to be hanging in the shallow offshore waters instead of the deep nearshore waters at 15 miles like they have been through late spring. Tripletail seem to be around still but we’re seeing them move deeper as well as our nearshore waters remain very hot. PRO ANGLER APP USERS – Tap a fish listed below the report for more angling tips and tricks!

OFFSHORE – Our latest 39 hour trip had some decent trolling action on the way out many Kingfish (Mackerel, King) were caught but not until we were past the 20-25 mile mark well into the offshore waters. Kingfish and Bonita (Bonito, Little Tunny) continued biting well throughout the troll but the Mackerel weren’t around for us this trip. Trolling between spots netted some monster Blackfin Tuna (Tuna, Blackfin) on Rapala x-rap magnum 30’s. The Porgy bite was on fire during this trip it was hard getting the cut Threadfins past them to the Mangrove Snapper (Snapper, Gray), but boy were they big and aggressive making the fishing action packed. Live Pinfish being used during this time needed a long soak but the big Gags (Grouper, Gag) and even bigger Mangroves would come slurp them up during the Porgy bite chaos making the night fishing very enjoyable until the Kingfish interrupted our bottom fishing. About an hour before sunrise the Kingfish turned on like a light switch foaming up around the boat eating leads, swivels, bare hooks, or anything that was dropped into the water. This made anglers trying to target bottom species frustrated because they kept getting clean cut off while dropping to bottom but those who switched to wire leader and any type of bait got some beautiful Kingfish and many of them, until after sunrise. Day bite was slow and steady but the big Gag Grouper, steady Mangroves and hot end of day Red Snapper (Snapper, Red) bite was the highlights. Overall, it was a great trip with many happy anglers and we look forward to doing it again this weekend. Check out our latest videos on Facebook as we have been doing video updates after each long range trip returns:https://www.facebook.com/hubbardsmarina/videos




Hubbard’s Marina
727-393-1947
www.hubbardsmarina.com

July 7, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – Not a whole lot has changed from last week. There has been a new push of Spanish (Mackerel, Spanish) that has moved into the bay. There ar a lot of schoolies but there are some bigger ones too. On a good outgoing or incoming tide there has been as many fish as you can catch. Anglers are using 1-2/O extra long shank hooks with 40 lb fluorocarbon leaders with small Greenbacks. You can also chum them and they’ll stay on the long hook every time. There are also a couple Cobia being caught on a circle hook with a life Pinfish or Greenback. Flounder (Flounder, Southern) have also shown up. Take your Mackerel hook and put a split shot on it so you can drop it down. The Snook (Snook, Common) bite has been good on the incoming tide or outgoing tide. You can find them just off the shore lines in the mangrove troughs. They can easily be caught. The Reds (Drum, Red) are starting to show up on cut Threadfin in the upper part of the bay. There is Tripletail in the South bay and you will find Cobia while you focus on them. Go buoy to buoy to find them using a 1/O J hook with a nice piece of Shrimp and a split shot. The Tarpon have pretty much turned off since the temperature is so hot.






Capt. Justin Lofaro All American Fishing Charters
813-406-9722
justinslofaro@gmail.com www.flallamericancharters.com

June 29, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – The fishing hasn`t changed too much this week. We are focusing on the middle of the bay with moving tides around the drop offs. Trout (Seatrout, Spotted), Spanish (Mackerel, Spanish) and Cobia will all be here. Bluefish are on the flats. Redfish (Drum, Red) are showing up on a good afternoon flood tide or a good morning outgoing tide. They are loving live Greenbacks tight to the mangroves and underneath the mangroves. Most people are focusing on Sharks (Shark, Blacktip & Shark, Shark, Bull & Shark, Lemon) since it is Shark Week. They are in the middle of the bay by the shipping channel. Drop a head of a Jack, Crevalle or Ladyfish on a 7-8oz circle hook with 3 ft of leader or cable on 50-80 lb test you will hook them. Tarpon are around the Skyway but the numbers have dropped a bit.






Capt. Justin Lofaro All American Fishing Charters
813-406-9722
justinslofaro@gmail.com www.flallamericancharters.com

June 24, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – The morning bite has been good for big Mackerel (Mackerel, Spanish) on the bridges using long hooks and Greenbacks. Anglers are chumming them up on the flats and It’s been busy. Cobia are still coming up in the same areas. While you are waiting for the tide to come up when you are targeting Redfish (Drum, Red) and Snook (Snook, Common) you can troll the outside of the flats looking for Cobia with Greenbacks. The Snook action has been pretty decent on the outgoing tide or in the middle of the strong incoming tide. We have been catching them farther South right around the docks near St. Pete’s pier. Anglers are using 3 ft of 30 lb and a 1/O circle hook with a Greenback. The tides haven’t been great for the Redfish. They are not the hot bite right now. Anglers are busy in the middle of the bay but wait for a good incoming tide to find them. Tarpon are still down by the Skyway and Bean Point. Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) are on the sand bars North of Picnic Island. Permit are swimming just offshore. Tripletail and Cobia are on the markers as well from the Skyway up to the South shore. Pick your tides, you need moving water to catch fish at this time of year.






Capt. Justin Lofaro All American Fishing Charters
813-406-9722
justinslofaro@gmail.com www.flallamericancharters.com

June 17, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – Anglers are heading out just off the shipping channels in the middle of the bay this week. Chum blocks are working to attract Bluefish, Spanish (Mackerel, Spanish), Flounder (Flounder, Southern) and the occasional Cobia. This is in about 6 ft of water along the edge of the shipping channel. Long shank hooks are best for the Mackerel and Bluefish with white bait on the end. A foot or two of 50 lb Fluorocarbon leader will help keep you from getting sawed off. The incoming or outgoing tide has been successful. Always have a Cobia rod ready as they are running! During a good strong moving tide anglers are focusing on the sand bar or grass flat edges in the middle of the bay where the water flows the best. The water is so hot that you need to find the flow. We are seeing nice Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) turn up here. Once you hook them you can also target Redfish (Drum, Red) and Snook (Snook, Common) during the outgoing tide. Free Lining a Greenback on a 1/O circle hook will work. The Reds are slowing down a bit, which may be to due with the hot weather and freshwater mix. The high incoming tide or quick moving tide will provide the best bite for them. Again, you need to find the clean, moving water. Tarpon continue to swim this week with lots of anglers hooking up 2-5 daily. There are also Permit on the nearshore wrecks as well. This is roughly 15-20 ft. They will be as close as 5 miles offshore.

OFFSHORE – Gags (Grouper, Gag) are open now. Good numbers are coming up about 10 miles off Anna Maria area. Keep in mind that Gags must now be 24 inches to keep. Take a look at the in app Hotspots for some new Grouper spots.




Capt. Justin Lofaro All American Fishing Charters
813-406-9722
justinslofaro@gmail.com www.flallamericancharters.com

June 9, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – We have been doing well on Sea Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) and some nice Spanish (Mackerel, Spanish) on any of the sand bars out in the middle of the bay. There are some Cobia mixed in the same bars. The edge of the bars on the incoming tide is best for the Trout. Anglers are free lining Greenbacks and Pilchards at the drop off. We are setting the boat on top of the bar and casting to the deeper water at the edge. A live bait rigged up will provide a better pull. The Spanish bite is still good but beginning to tail off. If you are getting broken off on the bars use a 1/0 or 2/0 long shank mackerel hook to avoid it. The Redfish (Drum, Red) have finally shown back up. The midday and afternoon big tide has provided the best bite when it is all the way up to the mangroves. Cut Threadfins under the mangroves has been the best bait. They are up underneath the mangroves so let it sit. This has proven to be very successful. On the outgoing tide look for them to be piled up in 5-10 ft in front of the mangroves. Tarpon were biting before the storm came through. They were catching them on bean point with crabs in front of the school. The best option is to anchor on the skyway – where there are less people. Throw cut Threadfins to find them. You may find Spanish or Kings (Mackerel, King) in the process.

OFFSHORE – When the weather allows, anglers going offshore are catching Grouper (Grouper, Gag) from 25-65 ft of water on hard rock bottom. Live Pinfish on Knocker rigs, cut Ribbon fish or cut Mullet are all working as bait. Red Grouper (Grouper, Red) and Snapper (Snapper, Gray) are hitting as well. Closer in you’ll find Cobia.




Capt. Justin Lofaro All American Fishing Charters
813-406-9722
justinslofaro@gmail.com www.flallamericancharters.com

June 3, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – We haven’t had too many reports of Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) or Redfish (Drum, Red) as everyone is focused on the Tarpon. The Tarpon have been on the beach, in the pass, and are readily taking pass crabs.

OFFSHORE – At around 40 ft. of water, there are Kingfish (Mackerel, King). In 30-40 ft. of water there are also Gags (Grouper, Gag) and Reds (Grouper, Red). For the Groupers, you can’t go wrong with Pinfish. For the Kings, anglers are trolling over structure.




Tampa Fishing Outfitters
813-870-1234

May 26, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – We have still been catching a lot of Snook (Snook, Common), anywhere from the St. Pete pier to the Howard Franklin bridges. We have been concentrating on dropoffs during a good outgoing tide and we have been catching them on free lined Greenbacks and believe it or not, cut bait. We have also been catching a lot of nice Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) in the same area and we have been using the same method on the flats and the potholes and any places where the flats are adjacent to the shipping channels. To get rid of the smaller Trout and get the bigger ones, go ahead and upsize your bait and use a bigger Greenie. The Redfish (Drum, Red) are starting to pick up again. For those, we are using cut bait and also putting Greenback on a cork, and the trick is to ease up on the low tide as they seem to concentrate more in one area. We have seen a lot of Cobia, and, if you are in the middle of the bay, there are tons of Spanish (Mackerel, Spanish). Always keep a pitch bait ready if you are fishing for Spanish Mackerel because there are some big Cobia from 30-48 inches around 30 pounds. All you need is a chum bag, some Greenbacks and a long shank hook with about a 50lb fluorocarbon leader. Tarpon are excellent right now. The skyway bridge, Bean Point and Longboat key are all holding schools of Tarpon. The best schools of Tarpon are found when you have the flush of outgoing tide day or night because it flushes all the pass crabs and all of the bait out and that’s their prime time to feed. Before your Tarpon trip, be sure to load up on Threadfins or Greenbacks. Also, use the dipnet for the pass crabs. It is best to fish for the pass crabs at Longboat Key. Look for the rolling Tarpon, try to get long casts, and get yourself in line with the school of fish to cut them off. At the skyway, anchor up with a bunch of threadfins or Greenbacks and just keep chumming while throwing cut baits or live baits. Trips are being scheduled for the upcoming Scallop season. Give Capt. Justin Lofaro a call and book now.






Capt. Justin Lofaro All American Fishing Charters
813-406-9722
www.flallamericancharters.com

May 20, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – From the shore we are doing well on Snook (Snook, Common) and the sizes are huge. They are best on the outgoing or incoming tide. Anglers are chumming due to the slow tide but the numbers are good. Redfish (Drum, Red) are slow lately. Anglers targeting them are using cut Pinfish or live Greenbacks in a Mullet school near oyster bars. Incoming tide is best and if you don’t get anything within 20 minutes you will have to move to another area. Work until you find them. Trips are being scheduled for the upcoming Scallop season! Give Capt. Justin Lofaro a call and book now!

OFFSHORE – The past week the tides have been slow so anglers are heading to the middle of the bay with some Chum – Greenbacks and Threadfins, to catch Spanish (Mackerel, Spanish), Sharks and Cobia. Even some Bluefish are turning up. The Tarpon are here and they are hitting off Bean Point. They are also swimming to the South around Long Beau Key using Crabs or cut Threadfins. Permit are on the nearshore wrecks off both Sarasota and Tampa Bay. Silver Dollar Sized crabs on a 3/O Circle hook will work well.




Capt. Justin Lofaro All American Fishing Charters
813-406-9722
justinslofaro@gmail.com www.flallamericancharters.com

May 12, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – Anglers have been catching everything this week. Tarpon and Mackerel (Mackerel, Spanish) are hitting well. There are a lot of Cobia and Tripletail around the bay. Redfish (Drum, Red) are by the island and the Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) are everywhere. Generally Shrimp, either live or fresh is a great bait for them. Similar artificials will work great as well.

OFFSHORE – Snapper (Snapper, Gray) are hitting offshore. Grouper (Grouper, Gag) are closer to shore due to the warm water. Ajs (Jack, Amberjack Greater) are on the bottom as well. Sails (Billfish – Sailfish) are being caught fairly close. Kingfish (Mackerel, King) have moved to the area and are hitting well.

BAIT REPORT – The bait are around this week and you can find them when the systems settle down. Pilchards and Pinfish are running. Gandy’s Bait & Tackle has tons of great gear to suit all your fishing needs!


Gandy Bait & Tackle
813-839-5551

May 6, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – Captain Tom Charlton is reporting a great Snook (Snook, Common) bite along mangroves shorelines on the outgoing tide in one to three feet of water. You can still catch them on the incoming tide but they will be pushed way back up under the mangroves. Scaled Sardines free lined into the area on a 1-aught circle hook has been the best option. If you like artificial baits try a mirrOlure in a natural color with dark top and white bottom. Redfish (Drum, Red) are also going to be found in the same areas. Scaled Sardines, live or frozen Shrimp or cut bait are very effective. The bite has been good on both the outgoing and incoming tide but you need some moving water. A MirrOlure Lil John XL in the root beer color on a 1/8 oz. jighead is a good artificial option bounced slowly along the bottom. You can also put a cut bait on the bottom while you are throwing your artificial baits. Big Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) are being found in about three feet of water over grass with sand patches. A scaled Sardine on a float is your best live bait option. The Lil John XL is also a great artificial bait for these big trout. Gag Grouper (Grouper, Gag) are being found around the ship channels on rocky ledges and structure in 25 to 35 feet of water. A two to 3 ounce weight on your mainline tied to a swivel attached to 80-pound fluorocarbon leader tied to a 5-aught circle hook. Large scaled Sardines, medium sized Pinfish and Threadfins are getting gobbled up when they reach bottom. Your best days to fish are the 6th through the 9th.

OFFSHORE – The Red Grouper fishing has been good past 100 foot of water. Using live Pinfish or dead Sardines and Squid has been the most effective. The tackle I like to use is a 4/0 reel with 50 lb. test main line and an 80lb leader with a 6 to 8 oz. of lead depending on the current. Mangrove Snapper (Snapper, Gray) fishing has been good in 75-90 foot of water. Anchor up and put a chum bag out and use live white bait or small green backs on a 1/8-1/2 oz. jig on a medium size spinning reel with 25-30 lb. fluorocarbon leader. You will also want to make sure to have a kingfish rod out as there is a good chance that you will catch a King (Mackerel, King) or a Blackfin Tuna (Tuna, Blackfin). Every trip recently has been producing one or the other. Use number 4 or number 5 wire leader to ensure you keep your catch on. A small blue runner has been the bait of choice or a large sardine, which can be caught with Sabiki. Captain Chad Hickman 941-468-8692

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BAIT REPORT – Catching the best live bait possible is imperative for success to a good offshore trip. If you spend the extra minutes catching the best bait you will have the most luck offshore. Large pods of bait are being spotted all the way out to 90 feet of water. White bait and small Greenbacks or Pilchards are at all bridges and piers. Be safe out there and most importantly have fun. Captain Chad Hickman 941-468-8692

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Capt. Tom Charlton
813-720-1575
http://crcfishing.com

April 27, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – The full moon has provided a great bite on cut Pinfish. Anglers are staying far away from the Redfish (Drum, Red) as they have been very spooky. With all the Spring traffic they are a bit spread out. On the incoming high tide anglers are chumming the sandy holes and flats until they find one or two. They can then be found on cut bait. You should be able to get 5-10 at a time. They are very thick. Cobia and Tripletail have also shown up in the middle part of the bay around buoys, humps and range markers. The Spanish are also swimming this area. When the tide is not moving the bite is actually great. Throw a bunch of chummers and the fish will show up. The Snook (Snook, Common) bite is great. We are getting 20-30 Snook per trip. The incoming just before high tide really provides a great bite. Tarpon are beginning to show up near the Bradenton/Sarasota area. About three or four weeks and they’ll be in Tampa.



BAIT REPORT – Pinfish are all over the place from Coffee Pot Bayou. This is the best place to find bait this week. Three or four throws will fill you up.


Capt. Justin Lofaro All American Fishing Charters
813-406-9722
justinslofaro@gmail.com www.flallamericancharters.com

April 22, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – Spanish Mackerel (Mackerel, Spanish) have been great. Redfish (Drum, Red) are eating well this week. Schools are sporadic and scattered about the bay. Snook (Snook, Common) have been awesome. The sizes are varied from small to huge however there aren’t a lot of slot sizes. Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) are on deeper flats this week. Anglers are catching Mackerel incidentally while targeting them. They are biting well though. The upstairs Fly Tying room is completed! The first Thursday of every month will be a beginner Tying class and the Third Thursday will be for more advanced techniques. Stop in and check it out!

OFFSHORE – It’s Kingfish (Mackerel, King) season right now! Everyone is focusing on them this week as tournaments and hot bites are typical this time of year. We are also seeing Grouper (Grouper, Red & Grouper, Gag) from shallow to 90ft. There are some rumours of Blackfin (Tuna, Blackfin) as well farther out. Some anglers are running the buoys and Crab traps for Tripletail too.




Tampa Fishing Outfitters
813-870-1234

April 14, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – It’s been windy but anglers are still fishing. The Snook (Snook, Common) fishing is incredible and it is the go to fish to keep people busy. The incoming and outgoing tide are both productive however the high tide has been great the past few days as they are not too high. We’ve been having 30 and 40 fish days. The smaller sizes are hanging out together so this is the more likely catch. The bigger Snook are spread out so if you’re catching a pile of little ones, move to find the bigger fish. Using a bigger finger Mullet or Greenback is best for bait. Redfish (Drum, Red) are schooled up however they are not easy to find as they move around a lot. They can be found from Picnic Island all the way up to Cyprus Beach, it just takes time. Cut Pinfish has worked well to hook them. When you are on the school, Greenbacks are also productive. The incoming tide is best to fish. Big Seatrout (Seatrout, Spotted) have been caught consistently this week on free lined Greenbacks or on Mirrodines. Any grass flats that have an edge that drops off, 2-3 ft of water, sandbars, potholes and tidal flats will be holding the fish. There are also Flounder (Flounder, Southern) in the potholes and flats. They are eating the same bait. Tarpon are beginning to show up down South so they should move into the local area soon.






Capt. Justin Lofaro All American Fishing Charters
813-406-9722
justinslofaro@gmail.com www.flallamericancharters.com

April 7, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – The Trout and Snapper (Snapper, Mangrove) are doing well inshore. The bigger Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) have moved in. Shrimp are working well to hook either fish. Redfish (Drum, Red) are decent along the mangrove shorelines. Snook (Snook, Common) are on the rocky shorelines and on the flats close to mangroves. Things are beginning to heat up before the really good months.

OFFSHORE – Hogfish are hitting offshore this week. We also have reports of Kingfish and Bonita (Bonito, Little Tunny). Where the Shrimpers are we are seeing Blackfins (Tuna, Blackfin). Grouper are hitting well however they are closed so they are not to target. Anglers can keep Reds (Grouper, Red) if they hook them. Most anglers are staying inside.

BAIT REPORT – Bait are all over the flats this week. We are seeing Scaled Sardines and Threadfin Herring.


Gandy Bait & Tackle
813-839-5551

March 30, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – Things have been busy in the area! The fishing has been extremely good. Anglers are catching Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) to start the day off. They are catching them on sandbars and potholes next to shipping channels or any deep cutoffs. Free-lining Greenbacks on the ledges has been the key to hooking them. Flounder (Flounder, Southern) and Spanish Mackerel (Mackerel, Spanish) have been caught as well and you can fill the cooler with all three. Once the tide comes up we can see some big, oversized, Bull Redfish (Drum, Red). Once the tide gets up on the flats anglers look for disturbance on top the water to find them. Cut Pinfish in 3 inch chunks on a 1/O circle hook in a Mullet school is the key. After catching a couple they will chum the water with Greenbacks to attract some more every now and then. Be careful not to overfeed them, you just want to keep their interest. Once the tide hits the anglers are throwing Pilchards into the rocky areas of the shoreline and under the mangroves to find Snook (Snook, Common). They have been anywhere from 25-30 inches. There are reports of Tarpon showing up in the South part of the region as well.



BAIT REPORT – Bait is on the range markers and flats this week. They are not coming to the chum so if you can get out before or during the sunrise you can find them. Start booking your trips with All American Fishing Charters before all slots are taken!!


Capt. Justin Lofaro All American Fishing Charters
813-406-9722
justinslofaro@gmail.com www.flallamericancharters.com

March 24, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – The fishing has been great. Snook (Snook, Common) are on fire. We are seeing up to 30 per trip. They are in between 18-30 inches so far. There are some bigger ones as well. Whitebait is all over the flats and are working well to attract the Snook. Anglers are using 1/O circle hook with a 30 lb leader or as high as 40 lb and as low as 20 lb. Change the weight depending on the fish you are on. Search the mangroves, ditches, and rock piles near the shoreline to find them. Redfish (Drum, Red) are schooled up and hungry if you can get to them. From Northern Tampa bay to the South shore we are seeing some great, big schools. Troll the flats to find them. If you put some time in to find them you will find schools of 50-100. Throw cut Ladyfish or cut Pinfish. For spooky fish a piece of cut bait will work so you can cast further past the fish. Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) are in the same places as all the Snook so you may catch some good sizes incidentally. This is typical of the Spring pattern. If you are targeting Trout specifically, the grass flats on the low tide in 3-4 ft of water will hold some great sizes. Throw a cork with a greenback or cracked glass mirrodine suspended bait with 20 lb fluorocarbon leader to hook them. There are a lot of Trout right from the Northern point to the South. Things are on fire in this area.



BAIT REPORT – Whitebait have been holding up on the flats and markers this week. Start booking your trips with All American Fishing Charters before all slots are taken!!


Capt. Justin Lofaro All American Fishing Charters
813-406-9722
justinslofaro@gmail.com www.flallamericancharters.com

March 17, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – Ronald Chapman, a Pinellas County local, reported that the bite inside Johns Pass and around the northern jetty is going really well for him lately. He was fishing frozen shrimp and some sand fleas catching nice Flounder (Flounder, Southern), plenty of Pompano (Pompano, Florida), and even some whiting. Ron reported his best success was around the first part of the outgoing tide. James Miller, a largo resident, was fishing on the top of the Johns Pass Bridge catching sheepshead and mangrove snapper (Snapper, Gray) on shrimp and squid on the incoming and outgoing tides he fished all day and filled a five gallon bucket with great eating fish. Jack Linehan, from Detroit Michigan, reports that the pompano are biting well around fort De Soto County Park too! He reports catching a few this past week on squid off the gulf pier inside the park. Angelo Rivero, from Largo, was catching big flounder this past week using a doc’s goofy jig combined with a yellowtail fly free-floating up and down his mainline.

OFFSHORE – The Tuna (Tuna, Buefin), Kingfish (Mackerel, King) and Wahoo are biting very well on the trollers in the offshore deep blue waters. The last two long range 39 hour trips have pulled in more than a dozen nice tuna, more than a half dozen big kings and this most recent 39 hour pulled up a 55lb wahoo on a Rapala x-rap magnum that we sell in our bait shop. The Grouper (Grouper, Red) bite is great in the offshore waters much better than it is in the near shore waters but you have to stay shallower than 120 foot right now to keep grouper so be careful to stay in the limit once you have grouper in your box. We have been going past the line to get the jacks and mangroves then come in a bit to start keeping the grouper, once we come in and keep grouper then we can’t go beyond that line again. Even though the commercial vertical line boats are fishing 30 foot of water 10 miles from shore and keeping 18 inch grouper, the recreational guys can’t go past 120 foot and we have to wait till the reds are 20 inches. Doesn’t seem right that we can’t go out there where the commercial guys live, but they can fish our back doors just outside the Egmont channel where ninety percent of the recreational industry fishes in the first ten miles from shore but I digress. We love the commercial industry and we don’t want to knock them, just want to coexist logically and sustainably. Nearshore:The Hogfish bite lately is heating up just like our near shore waters. They are loving live shrimp or fiddler crabs. The trick to the hogs is the least amount of terminal tackle possible, light tackle and long fluorocarbon top shots. We like to knocker rig for them, jig head fish for them tipped with shrimp, or simply use a Nekid ball jig tipped as well. The water temp is getting closer to 73-74 degrees now in the near shore waters allowing the mackerel to show back up in small numbers. As the water continues to warm the mackerel (Mackerel, Spanish) will only get more prolific followed closely by their larger counterparts the king mackerel or kingfish. The Mackerel will most likely be here in force after the next full moon and the kingfish will be here thick two full moons from now these pelagic fish seem to hop up and down the coastal passes on the moon phases following the flow of whitebait. The red grouper bite is finally starting to warm up with the local waters we expect it to only improve from here as the summer heat sets in pushing these fish even closer to shore in higher densities.




Hubbard’s Marina
727-393-1947
www.hubbardsmarina.com

March 9, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – The Tampa bite is heating up well this week. The Redfish (Drum, Red) are becoming more populous. There has also been some Snook, Common show up with the warmer weather. The Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) are expected to pick up soon with this weather. All three are being caught on Whitebait that is free lined on a circle hook. Anglers are searching the oyster bars with the bait just off the bottom to find them. As far as artificials go, the Mirrolures have been great for Trout. Everything is in typical early Spring pattern at this point so anglers are expecting a great Tarpon season coming up in April. We expect this to continue into the weekend and improve with the weather.



BAIT REPORT – Whitebait has shown up in the upper bay this week. Start booking your trips with All American Fishing Charters before all slots are taken!!


Capt. Justin Lofaro All American Fishing Charters
813-406-9722
justinslofaro@gmail.com www.flallamericancharters.com

March 3, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – There are some Sheepshead in many areas that are eating well. The Reds (Drum, Red) have moved into the bay. The bite is not hot but they are spread out so if you put your time in you’ll catch a few. The Powerplant is holding some decent Pompano, Florida. The Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) bite has been on fire in Clearwater and the sound area. The Snook, Common, bite is great which is just in time for opening. The Kings (Mackerel, King) and Mackerel, Spanish have not shown up yet.

OFFSHORE – Anglers are heading offshore to find Snapper (Snapper, Gray & Snapper, Lane) and Hogfish this week. They can be found anywhere from 50-65 ft for the better fish.

BAIT REPORT – There are some Pilchards showing up at the bridges and the skyway this week. The Fly Shop has made some big changes to their department and programs! Stop in and check them out!Tampa Fishing Outfitters will also be at the Outdoor Expo this weekend!


Tampa Fishing Outfitters
813-870-1234

February 24, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – The Reds (Drum, Red) are schooled up this week however they are still difficult to catch so far, even with Shrimp. We do expect it to increase as we work away from the big moon. Things should heat up for the weekend. Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) have been hitting Mirrodines or little Johns. A live Shrimp on a popping cork is deadly for them. The mouths of the residential canals as well as rocks on a shoreline and oyster bars are producing the best sizes. The outgoing tide will provide anglers with their limits. Snook, Common, have recently turned on and the sizes are great so far. Jerkbaits are working well along with Mirrodines. Live Shrimp is a great bait to thrown as well.






Capt. Justin Lofaro All American Fishing Charters
813-406-9722
www.flallamericancharters.com justinslofaro@gmail.com

February 18, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – The powerplant is still doing well for Pompano (Pompano, Florida), Cobia and Permit. They are hitting Pompano Jigs including Doc’s Goofy jig or live Pinfish. The Cobia are loving live Eel imitations. The Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) are doing well on DOAs or MirrOlures.

OFFSHORE – The ledges in the 60 ft range are doing well for Hog Snapper (Hogfish). Anglers are throwing live Shrimp on a knocker rig. Most anglers are focusing on the inshore this week.

BAIT REPORT – Sardines, Pinfish and Grunts are beginning to show up on the Skyway this week. Check out the GRAND OPENING of the St. Petersburg location on the 26 & 27 of February. Free Food, Fun and Fishing Seminars!


Tampa Fishing Outfitters
813-870-1234

February 10, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – The weather has been pretty unfavorable in this area as of late. If you can find a break in the weather you will find a consistent bite of Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) caught on Shrimp, gulp or DOA Shrimp on a jighead. Thrown to the bottom of pockets, docks, holes or channel edges will be the most productive. You have to pick your locations depending on the weather. Live Shrimp has been most productive due to their scent. Anything you can do to get it to the bottom will work. The water is cold so the Trout are fairly lethargic. We hope to see the water warm up a bit by the weekend so you may need more active presentations. Throughout the port there are Sheepshead, Snapper, Gray and Jack, Crevalle that will hit Shrimp as well. It is a great place to fish when it’s windy. Spring is booking up quickly so call Capt. Justin Lofaro to reserve your spot!






Capt. Justin Lofaro All American Fishing Charters
813-406-9722
www.flallamericancharters.com

February 4, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – If you can get out in between the fronts it’s the best time to go as the fish have been great. The South wind and increasing water temperatures provide the best conditions. The Reds (Drum, Red) and Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) are still doing well and the warm days are producing a great Snook, Common bite. They will soon become the target of most anglers. They are throwing Shrimp or artificials such as spoons or MirrOdines. There will be another front moving through in the next few days so we will see the fish move into the channels, passes and deeper pockets. During the North Wind when the fronts are in a gulp Shrimp on quarter ounce jig bounced on the bottom will do well. Live Shrimp on a 1/0 J hook or on a jighead worked slowly is a great alternative. The Sheepshead are still eating well in the mangroves and they are mixed in with Drum, Black and Reds as well. They too, are biting Shrimp in the channels, structures and rocky bottoms. Snapper, Gray have been found in this area as well. We hope to see conditions clear up for the weekend.






Capt. Justin Lofaro All American Fishing Charters
813-406-9722
www.flallamericancharters.com

January 28, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – This week anglers are doing well on Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) throughout the deeper canals and next to docks in 4-5 ft of water. Any canal, dock or trough near a flat is great. Shrimp with popping corks or a quarter oz jig head with a DOA with a paddle tail have been the best bait. Gulp Shrimp is working in any color as well. Just let it hit the bottom and pop it a few times. You’ll have to weed out the shorts as there are quite a few of them to go through to get a keeper. There are tons of Reds (Drum, Red) however getting them to bite is the issue. If you are sight casting you can make a long cast with a live Shrimp so it lands past them. Artificials are working as well in gulp Shrimp. The port of Tampa near the rocks, ledges and docks you can regularly fill the boat with some nice Sheepshead as well. Spring is booking up quickly so call Capt. Justin Lofaro to reserve your spot!






Capt. Justin Lofaro All American Fishing Charters
813-406-9722
www.flallamericancharters.com

January 22, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – The weather in this area has been rough lately so a lot of anglers have not made it on the water. There have been reports of some good sizes Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) that are loving live Greenbacks so far. Pompano, Florida and Drum, Black are moving around the bridges and are biting Blue Crabs. The channels are full of Sea Bass, Black this week and they are coming up in great sizes. There are also some Snapper, Gray being caught in the same areas.

OFFSHORE – The Grouper, Red bite is hot this week and the target for most offshore anglers. They can be found anywhere from 50-100 ft on Squid, cut Threadfins/Greenies. There are also some Ajs (Jack, Amberjack Greater) and Snapper, Gray in this area as well. Their bite has been consistent so far this week when anglers can make it out and we expect to see similar results over the weekend.

BAIT REPORT – Greenbacks are still around however not as thick on the flats and around the islands. Sailor Mike’s Bait & Tackle has all the bait you will need for all your fishing adventures!


Sailor Mike’s Bait & Tackle
813-902-9360
https://www.facebook.com/Sailor-Mikes-Bait-Tackle-168494926496233/

January 15, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – The Redfish (Drum, Red) and Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) are actually doing extremely well so far however the cold weather expected soon may change that. Shrimp and bait are doing well, although it’s not easy to find so Shrimp is more productive. Docks, channel edges and holes are the best places to look for both species during a negative tide. Anglers are sight casting for them when the water is clear using mirrodines or zman Shrimp with weedless, weighted hook. This usually does well this time of year. There have also been reports of Sheepshead in the ports that are hitting cut Shrimp or Fiddler Crabs. They are mixed in with some great Snapper, Gray too. Anglers should have no trouble stocking up on the great bite this week.



BAIT REPORT – There are still some Whitebait running however they are in the process of leaving and are not easy to find.


Capt. Justin Lofaro All American Fishing Charters
813-406-9722
www.flallamericancharters.com

January 6, 2016

Tampa Fishing Report

OFFSHORE – Anglers continue to catch a great amount of Reds (Drum, Red) this week but are finding them near the docks, channels and holes where during negative tide. Shrimp or Whitebait is their preference so far this week. Snook, Common continue to show up but are becoming less frequent as the temperature drops. They are loving Greenbacks (Threadfin). Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) have had a decent bite using Greenbacks, Shrimp or a similar artificial such as a DOA under a popping cork. Gold glitter has been the most productive color. The oyster bars that are deep enough to still be covered in water are the best spots to look for Trout. Anglers are fishing the edges of the bars for the best sizes from Weedon Island.

BAIT REPORT – There is still Whitebait running the flats so far this week.


Capt. Justin Lofaro All American Fishing Charters
813-406-9722
www.flallamericancharters.com

December 29, 2015

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – There is a lot of action for anglers heading out this week. The nearshore is producing a fantastic bite on Grouper, Red around 5 miles. Although they are closed anyone recreational fishing should not have any trouble hooking them. The Hogfish bite has been great for the past month and continues into this week as well. They are both chasing the bait run so far as we see Sardines and Thread Herring in the nearshore. Everything has been swimming between 5-25 miles. Kings (Mackerel, King) are just a little farther out along with some Mackerel, Spanish. Even farther out there are some nice sized of Wahoo in 600 ft. of water. They can be found anywhere between 80-125 miles.

OFFSHORE – Anglers are still seeing a great Flounder (Flounder, Southern & Flounder, Gulf) bite throughout the inshore. They are loving soft plastics so far this week. The Pompano, Florida are scattered so far but the bite and sizes are decent when you can find them. Goofy jigs are the best bet for hooking them. Good reports of Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) are turning up however the water is still warm so the sizes and numbers are not quite where they should be. The pattern is a bit off. Reds (Drum, Red) are sporadic this week but seem to be biting for DOA little Johns in natural colors or root beer. Snook, Common are swimming the beaches since the water is still warm however this is unusual and they are expected to move out once the next cold front sets in. Keep an eye out for the new Grizzly Tumblers arriving in store soon as well as many other great new products and deals to check out!




Fisherman’s Ideal Supply House
727-391-7380
http://fishsaltwatertackle.com/

December 21, 2015

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – Inconsistent weather has made most of the fish in this area confused so they don’t know where to go or what to do. This has produced a bit of a spotty bite in terms of location. They are there, you just have to find them. Snook, Common are the most prominent this week. They are loving Sardines as they are all stocked up in the bay. They are the preferred bait this week. Anglers are free lining them or rigging them under a float. Moving water has been the best option, especially since we are around a full moon phase. This will create a great low tide in the morning and pocket the fish in shallow areas. Sheepshead are biting well on Shrimp this week as well. There are also some great Seatrout, Spotted and Reds (Drum, Red) swimming in the same areas although their bite is not nearly as hot.

OFFSHORE – Cobia are expected to show up on the nearshore wrecks and reefs any time now. The cooler weather will also provide a better Hogfish bite just outside the structures on the sand looking into the wrecks. They are loving fresh or dead Shrimp and also Sand Fleas. The bite has been steady so anglers are having no trouble finding fish in the offshore this week.

BAIT REPORT – There are some Shrimp running however the bite is spotty. Sardines are the hot bait this week and are working well for inshore fish.


Tampa Fishing Outfitters
813-870-1234

December 17, 2015

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – Sheepshead are on fire this week. They are hitting very well around docks. The Reds (Drum, Red) are still in as well as the Snook, Common. Drum, (Drum, Black) are biting on the bridges for anglers throwing Blue Crab on the bottom. Snapper, Yellowtail have moved out however we suspect the Pompano, Florida will be moving in as soon as the next cold front hits. There have also been reports of Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) coming in on DOA, zman or mirrodines, basically any plastics. Whitebait is producing well too as they are currently running. It’s a great week to be fishing

OFFSHORE – The Grouper, Gag bite continues to do well this week however anglers must keep in mind they are closed and only available for catch and release. The Sea Bass, Black have moved in and are holding up on the nearshore wrecks. The bigger sizes have been in the channels however. Anglers have been using just about anything for bait but are mostly using a chicken rig with cutbait until they start hitting, then moving to a jig bounced on the bottom. Keep an eye on your catch. When you hook a male, there may be a hungry female right behind.

BAIT REPORT – Both Whitebait and Shrimp are running this week and can be easily caught to use as inshore bait.


Sailor Mike’s Bait & Tackle
813-902-9360

December 11, 2015

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – Pilchards and Threadfins are swimming the offshore this week. The fish are following and they are also working well as bait. Anglers have been catching them around the skyway and piers so far. Discount Tackle has HUGE reductions on non-current Kayak inventory. Stop in today to see what’s in store!






Capt. Justin Lofaro All American Fishing Charters
813-406-9722
www.flallamericancharters.com

December 3, 2015

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – Snook, Common have been in transition this week making their way into the mouths of the creeks and dark bottom spots. They have been looking for the warmer water at this point. The Reds (Drum, Red) are schooled up but spotty. When anglers are on fish they are hitting tons, but the schools are not easy to find. Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) have been around the dark bottom and in holes. DOA Shrimp or lures in White color are the most productive again this week. Trout are mostly schoolie sized at this point as the big ones are not expected to show up until the water is much cooler. By then they will be in extremely shallow water. Jack, Crevalle are making their way to the inshore this week, schooled up in spotty areas. The Flounder, Southern & Flounder, Gulf bite has continued strong this week. Although there is a mixed bag of fish the fishing is not what is has been in the past.

OFFSHORE – We continue to see a few different species in the deep water. Amberjack (Jack, Amberjack Greater) are being reeled in along with some good sized Grouper, Gag which are closing this week. The Tripletail bite has been the most beneficial for anglers this week however as they seem to be just about everywhere. Markers and buoys are holding the best sizes. There have also been a few reports of Mackerel, King still being caught in the deeper water around the lower part of Tampa. Spanish Sardines are the most productive bait to hook them.

BAIT REPORT – The dock lights continue to hold quite a bit of bait. The Mullet are still running thick along with Whitebait on the flats.


Tampa Fishing Outfitters
813-870-1234

November 26, 2015

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – There are a lot of different species swimming in the area. Flounder (Flounder, Southern & Flounder, Gulf)) have had a steady bite this week. The Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) have been holding up on the flats and can be caught using mirrolures and DOA Shrimp. Any shade of White has been the best bet for color this week. Reds (Drum, Red) are still being caught off the docks along with the tail end of the Snook, Common bite. Some Mackerel, Spanish have made their way to the inshore a the bay and are chasing the bait schools of scaled Sardines.

OFFSHORE – There is still quite a bit of action in the offshore this week. Mackerel, King are biting anywhere from the lower part of Tampa bay to 15-20 miles off. They have been chasing Spanish Sardines and Bluerunners, so they have been working well for bait. The Mackerel, Spanish have also been running although a bit closer to shore. The Grouper, Gag bite on the bottom has been fairly steady but anglers should take caution as to what species are closed and make sure they do their research prior to heading out.

BAIT REPORT – Bluerunners and Spanish Sardines are swimming in the offshore and working well for bait.


Gandy Bait & Tackle
813-839-5551

November 20, 2015

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – The Seatrout, Spotted bite is finally beginning to pick up as the weather has cooled a bit. They are loving live bait right now and it is not difficult to find. Anglers are also catching Flounder (Flounder, Southern & Flounder, Gulf) along structures on small jigs or Shrimp tipped jigheads. Snook, Common are currently in transition and moving their way out, although still available to catch as they look for Mullet and are readily taking baitfish patterns. Mackerel (Mackerel, King) are in the nearshore doing very well along with Tripletail on live Whitebait and DOA shrimps. The nighttime bite has been good as long as anglers can find moving water when there is no front occurring. In those cases, Snook and Reds (Drum, Red) are hitting off the docks.

OFFSHORE – The bite along the bottom has been consistent the past week. Reports of some decent sized Hogfish have been coming in. The Grouper, Gag have moved to roughly 60 ft of water offshore. Kings (Mackerel, King) are also still present around for anglers on flat lines. They have been coming in even closer at times as the temperature has not dropped cold enough for them to leave. Late last week a report of a Mahi (Dolphin) came in as well. This is not usually the case for this area however with the unseasonable weather not all of them have left. A few Cobia sightings have made their way in as they are following manatees on the flats as well.

BAIT REPORT – The bait run is thick right now however live baiters will have to work to catch Pilchards as the Threadfins are mixed in pretty well. Piers and structures are showing Cigar Minnows and Spanish Sardines which are great bait for offshore fish this week. Tampa Fishing Outfitters are currently building a brand new Fly Shop for anglers to check out in the new year! This will be the Fly Shop to rival all competition!


Tampa Fishing Outfitters
813-870-1234

November 13, 2015

Tampa

INSHORE – The offshore trip this past weekend was a 39 hour at Hubbard’s Marina. We caught some nice big Gags (Grouper, Gag) during the trip along with some beautiful Scamps (Grouper, Scamp) as well! The pelagic fish cooperated too we caught some nice Kings (Mackerel, King) while trolling and on flat lines. Dan Jackman from West Palm Beach caught a beautiful Mahi (Dolphin) while trolling and his cousin Jig head Ed Sumrall caught a fat Blackfin (Tuna, Blackfin) while trolling as well they were using large Rapala X – rap magnum 30 lures that we sell inside our tackle shop. The Snappers (Snapper, Gray & Snapper, Lane & Snapper, Yellowtail) Porgies and a few other snapper species bit really well for us at Hubbard’s Marina due to the very warmer than normal offshore waters.

OFFSHORE – Scott Baso, from Gulfport, caught some nice flounder on live shrimp around the beach behind Hubbard’s Marina and under the bridge at Johns Pass. He was using a small split shot to weigh down his live shrimp to the sandy bottom where the Flounder (Flounder, Southern) lie in wait to ambush passing prey. Art Seiple, Geoffrey Huyser and Sue Mongan are all local fishing buddies that get together to fish Johns Pass. The three of them were happy to report that the Flounder, Mackerel (Mackerel, Spanish), and Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) were all biting well around the jetty and the bridge. They were catching these species on live Pilchards and also live Shrimp. They prefer to fish the outgoing tides but said they catch fish all the time inside the pass and love spending time fishing together. Kam Kavanh from Seminole was fishing with his buddy under the west span of the Johns Pass Bridge catching plenty of mackerel and flounder on live green backs reporting the outgoing tide was most productive for them. The mackerel were tearing up the baits higher in the column while the flounder waiting for the baits to hit the bottom. Michele Hawkins from Madeira Beach caught a monster Drum (Drum, Black) from the North jetty of Johns Pass while using a large live Shrimp for bait it was nearly 30 inches long! Robin Nash from Massachusetts we are catching nice Mackerel from the western tip of the north jetty using a flashy twitch bait. The overall theme here is that Mackerel and Flounder are biting really well right now inside Johns Pass. The near shore waters are still especially warm for this time of year causing the near shore bite to be more like a late summer instead of a November fishery. We are still seeing Billfish – Sailfish near shore and plenty of Kings (Mackerel, King) along with the plentiful Cobia showing the water temps are much higher than average for this time of year. Also, the Gags haven’t moved into the nearshore waters very thick yet but do seem to be getting thicker inside Tampa Bay. Many anglers in the bay are catching nice loads of Gags by trolling the shipping channel. However, the hotter than normal waters near shore are causing the Snapper to continue biting well much later than average and we’re seeing great numbers of Mangrove (Snapper, Gary) and Hogfish in the nearshore waters.




Hubbard’s Marina
727 – 393 – 1947
www.hubbardsmarina.com

November 6, 2015

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – Due to the unseasonably warm temperatures the fish have become confused and are still in their late summer or early fall patterns. They have not pushed into the creeks or cuts like they normally would be at this time of the year. There are some keeper Seatrout, Spotted from 18-23 inches biting. Anglers have been drifting the outgoing tide on grass flats using popping corks with a greenback underneath. They stop, throw chummers and once they hit one fish they will hit a few. They are incidentally hooking Drum, Red as they are still schooled up however somewhat spooked. If you are fishing for Trout, they will come to you mixed in with some giant Jack, Crevalle which are quicker to the bait. Snook, Common can also be found in the shallow water but are becoming more scattered.

OFFSHORE – Anglers do not have to travel too far to get a good offshore bite. About 2 miles off the beach Kings (Mackerel, King) are biting however this is the only species reported at this time. The weather and water temperatures are still quite warm so anglers have not seen much movement from the fish.

BAIT REPORT – Whitebait continue to run just about everywhere. Live baiters should have no problem stocking up.


Capt. Justin Lafaro
813-406-9722

October 28, 2015

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – The fish are beginning to pose more of a challenge as they get into their late fall hideouts. Schools are breaking up into smaller groups but there are still plenty of fish, just not a ton in the same spot. Redfish (Drum, Red) bite is good right now similar to the Snook (Snook, Common) bite. Trout (Seatrout, Spotted) have drastically increased. The bigger sizes are now moving into the bay and they are plentiful. We expect this to continue for the next month or so. Popping corks over Greenbacks are working very well for these. You can also consider free lining on fluorocarbon line when fishing a hole or trough. There is another front moving in soon so keep an eye on that. North wind will blow water out of the bay regardless of the tide so fishing potholes, canals, troughs and deep water dropoffs will be successful. Keep in mind the Kingfish bite is still doing very well by the Skyway and is expected to continue through the next month.

BAIT REPORT – Whitebait is still running in the bay although it is getting a little spotty. For suggestions on what to use you can always check out our Tips feature which provides information and recommendations for the fish of your choice.

Capt. Justin Lafaro
All American Fishing Charters
www.flallamericancharters.com
813-406-9722

October 23, 2015

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – As the fish start to move into their late fall pattern we are seeing more Redfish and Snook anywhere that you can find some deeper water. This isn’t as easy as it sounds as the levels have been low as of late, and the wind hasn’t helped. The docks haven’t had much water to house fish but the weekend promises a possible increase. Potholes and deeper flats have been the best source of fish. Trout has definitely become more prominent in the last couple weeks providing at least one option for anglers. For these you can keep Greenbacks or small Pinfish on a Popping Cork handy to drift the flat. You can also expect to find some Redfish kicking around and if you have Cutbait, specifically Pinfish, they will hit that. Don’t distress as the weekend should bring a softer breeze and even a bit of warmth as the water levels should increase for anglers to get out to the flats and oyster bars. If all else fails, there is still the troughs and potholes.

BAIT REPORT – There are no bait reported to be running at this time. Feel free to check out our app for Tips by tapping on the fish of your choice to view alternative options.

Capt. Justin Lafaro
All American Fishing Charters
Tampa Bay, FL
813-406-9722

October 9. 2015

Tampa Fishing Report

Inshore- Angelo Rivera, from Largo, caught a monster red fish under the John’s Pass bridge using a four inch power bait pogie at night. Scott Watkins was fishing under the John’s Pass Bridge as well with his family and friends using live green backs and he was catching plenty of Flounder, Mackerel and Jack crevalle. Dave Morgan, from Ontario, was using live whitebait fishing the north Jetty of John’s Pass when he caught a 30 inch snook and lots of big mackerel. Owen and Jill peoples from Seminole were catching pompano and ladyfish from the north jetty of John’s Pass using live shrimp for bait. Mark Crawford, a local of Pinellas County was catching flounder, redfish and mackerel on an outgoing tide from the western tip of the north jetty of John’s Pass. Mark Crawford as reported he was having some of the best fishing he’s seen in years around this time of year he was very happy about the action and said the redfish were the most fun to catch.

Near shore- The mackerel bite on the beaches and near shore is really hot right now but especially hot in the early to mid morning time. Once the sea breeze picks up it seems to shut down the mackerel feeding. The whitebait schools are thick near shore and were finding big balls of bait all over the near shore waters and on the near shore wrecks. Triple tails are back in the area hiding under the crab trap buoys and they love to take live shrimp or chunks of sardines. Bonita are thick near shore right now and even pushing into Tampa bay waters. Big mangrove snapper are biting well right now near shore in the thirty to sixty foot range and they love to eat sardine plugs or live shrimp. Gags are starting to move in closer but as the water cools they will even get thicker and more aggressive. Also, once the crab traps are set out for stone crabs starting on the 15th of October they act as huge chum blocks attracting these aggressive grouper even closer to our shores.

Offshore- Our recent 39 hour trip at Hubbard’s Marina had some rough weather to deal with but this didn’t stop Captain Bryon Holland from filling the boxes with nice fish. We got around thirty or so nice big red grouper before they closed. Also got some nice fat gags even one in the nearly 20lb range and tons more that weren’t landed due to break offs. Scamp bit well for us too and we got around two dozen of them as well. The mangrove snapper bite was steady for us and we got some big boys in the 120 foot range. The porgies were also biting well during this past weekend and we got some monster porgies one was even as large as 10lbs. We also got kingfish and tuna for our pelagic species while trolling and on flat lines.

Written by: Captain Mark and Dylan Hubbard
Hubbard’s Marina
170 Johns Pass Boardwalk
Madeira Beach, FL
HubbardsMarina.com
727-420-9485

October 2, 2015

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – Colton Rice, from Seminole, reported catching a few nice redfish from the north jetty of Johns Pass using a soft plastic swim bait on a high incoming tide. The redfish were feeding best along the bottom he said while the lady fish and jacks were busting the bait on the surface. White bait has flooded the area making ladyfish, jacks, and mackerel plentiful along the beaches and inside the passes. Larry Scarpato, from Clearwater, was fishing the western tip of the North jetty using large live shrimp and nailing nice black drum right inside the tidal rips. He was free lining the shrimp with small split shots letting the shrimp drift into the rips and as soon as the tide slack in a whirlpool the drum were nailing the shrimp. Raymond Bizier, from the Orlando area, was catching plenty of mackerel with his buddy. They were catching them on free lined green backs about half way out the north jetty of Johns Pass. Carol Mello, from Valrico, was catching flounder on the bottom using live shrimp under the western span of the Johns Pass Bridge. She was using double split shots to weight the shrimp to bottom where the flounder hangout. Joey Drew and Will McClure our overnight mates were fishing the dock areas catching big snook on live pinfish and monster tarpon on large cut dead baits. Tyson Angel, from Pinellas Park, was catching fat black drum around the docks of Johns Pass using dead crabs for bait.

NEARSHORE – Red grouper will be closing down October 8th at 12:01am so next Thursday will be the final day you can harvest these grouper. Gag grouper will remain open until December 3rd and scamp grouper will remain open all year. Right now the kingfish are the big news near shore now that they have pushed into the area waters. We are catching them while trolling on our way out and back during the 5 hour half day trips. We are also catching kingfish while flat lining during the 5 and 10 hour trips. The red grouper bite was great leading up to the most recent low pressure and should be recovering quickly thanks to the weak pressure gradient associated with this recent storm. The hurricane moving up the east coast of Florida will be a wild card since we don’t know how much it will affect our local area waters quite yet. The hogfish are biting well in the 30-60 foot range on live shrimp. We find that 20-30lb fluorocarbon and the least amount of terminal tackle possible entices them to bite more frequently. Mangrove snapper also feeding well near shore and will slow down as the gulf cools. They have been finicky though requiring an expert touch and bait presentation to get them to chew shrimp helps, or cut sardine plugs.

OFFSHORE – Our most recent offshore trip was our full moon 44 hour trip just before amberjack closed on the 28th of September. We got lots of big jacks on large live baits and vertical jigs. The largest jack caught was nearly 80lbs and we got about a dozen more over the 65lb mark. The grouper bite was a bit soft on this recent trip mostly due to us focusing on jacks before they closed. Mangroves were steady but not too aggressive really requiring extra technique to get the larger numbers. Most advanced anglers limited out on this long trip but others struggled to get half their limit due to the pickier bite of fish. Mangroves get tough to catch as the water cools but they remain around all year. During the winter time storms they tend to congregate on large structure making it easier to find and dial in on them. Kingfish, tuna, and wahoo are the pelagic fish we see the most this time of year and on the recent trip we got some fat tuna and kingfish but lost the big fish we hooked which was most likely a wahoo due to its immense speed once hooked.

Written by: Captain Mark and Dylan Hubbard
Hubbard’s Marina
170 Johns Pass Boardwalk
Madeira Beach, FL
HubbardsMarina.com
727-420-9485

September 25, 2015

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – In Tampa, we’ve continued to do well with Redfish, but the Snook bite is coming around as well. The Snook haven’t been as tide dependent. We’ve been using live bait including Greenbacks and Pinfish. We have been chumming them pretty good to get them going, but once they’re going, don’t keep chumming them or you’ll feed them too much and they’ll shut right off. There are also a few Pompano starting to show up near the South shore of Tampa Bay in sandy and grass ledges. We also caught a few Redfish and Snook this week. Trout have started to move in recently, and they’ll eat just about everything. The Trout aren’t too big yet, though.

Look out for All American Fishing Charter’s Red October fall specials to catch some Redfish. Between now and mid to late October is the time to book a trip.

Capt. Justin Lafaro
All American Fishing Charters
www.flallamericancharters.com
813-406-9722

September 4, 2015

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – Mackerel are starting to make their way into the bays and passes as they gear up for their fall run. They will be even more plentiful in the coming weeks and the Kingfish will not be too far behind them as the water temps reach the Mackerel’s favorite temperature around seventy eight degrees. Snook season opened in our area September first and anglers are catching plenty at night in the lights or in the passes free lining live baits like Pinfish, Grunts, or large Whitebaits. Redfish are feeding well during the day. Mike Jones, from Tampa, caught a Redfish recently from the North jetty of John’s Pass using a jerk bait on an outgoing tide. Nick Gualtieri from Seminole was fishing from a boat with his father recently inside John’s Pass and caught a beautiful Redfish on an outgoing tide using a large Greenback for bait. The water inside the bay is a bit dirty from recent rain but that hasn’t slowed down the Redfish and black drum bite inside the pass. Trout are still active on the flats inside the pass as well.

NEARSHORE – Mackerel are starting to show up in force around the beaches, passes and near shore structure. The most action is around the live bait schools that seem to be hugging the beaches and on the nearshore artificial reefs. Kingfish will not be far behind the early arriving Mackerel as the water temps get right for their fall run. Red Grouper are biting well for us in the near shore waters in depths of 50-90 foot of water. They are being found around bait shows on hard rock bottom and we like to drift for the Reds allowing us to show our baits to more Grouper more quickly. Gag Grouper seem to be moving into the nearshore waters a bit earlier this year thanks to the rain water bringing down gulf temps more quickly. We are finding keeper Gags as shallow as 30 foot but the most action is around 40-70 foot on small rock piles or the limestone ledges. Gag Grouper require you to anchor on specific structure since gags do not to venture far from their rocky homes.

OFFSHORE – Our recent 44 hour full moon trip at Hubbard’s Marina had quite the successful catch especially for the light load we carried. This was due mostly to the weather variables stacking up perfectly for us. The wind and current were going the same direction most of the trip which made it easy for Captain Garett Hubbard to position the boat perfectly over our secret deepwater spots. Also, the oncoming low pressure from tropical storm Erika’s remnants had the fish ready to chew. Fish are sensitive to pressure changes and always bite best on a falling barometer and this happens regularly when we have approaching low pressure systems. Also, the water temps were great in the area we fished and even the surface temps cooperated offering awesome pelagic fishing opportunities. We ended up catching a monster 51lb Wahoo while trolling to our bottom fishing area. Then when we started Snapper fishing at night we caught a 51lb Cuberra Snapper using a single Sardine cut to catch Mangrove Snapper! Later that same night the very same angler who caught the Cuberra ending up landing a 16lb Mutton Snapper. The impressive part of this was the angler, Ernest Hall from Atlanta has not been deepwater fishing often. He didn’t even bring his own tackle he was using a Hubbard’s Marina killer stick and our 6ot diawa reel to catch both of these trophy Snapper! Not only did we catch these trophy fish, we also nearly limited out on Mangrove Snapper too. The Amberjack just wouldn’t quit during the day allowing us to catch our boat limit of Jacks during this recent 44 hour full moon trip as well. Plus, we had many heads and tails like Vermillion, Porgies, and Yellowtail Snapper too!

Captain Mark and Dylan Hubbard
Hubbard’s Marina – John’s Pass
170 Boardwalk Pl E
Madeira Beach, FL
www.hubbardsmarina.com
727-393-1947

August 28, 2015

Tampa Fishing Report

The Redfish in Tampa Bay are schooling up, there is no doubt about it. However, learning how to fishing the school that you’re on is another story. I see people all of the time trying to chase them down, run into them etc.. If you see a school, make sure you get well ahead of them and let them come to you. I use baits when I am school like cut pinfish or lady fish, you really cast these bait a long way making it easier to get your bait in the path of the school. Any flat right now in the bay has redfish on it, put a little time in and you will get on some. Snook fishing has slowed a little, I think due to the water temps rising, but you can still get on few on a good outgoing tide. I wouldn’t kill yourself for white bait right now, I would get what you can, but make sure you have pinfish..this is the most versatile bait right now if its redfish you are after.

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Captain Justin Lofaro
www.flallamericancharters.com
813-406-9722

August 21, 2015

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – Victor Vizaro from Seminole has been fishing local flats and bridges day and night. He reports the redfish and trout to be active on the flats right now. The redfish are most common and feeding most aggressively on live shrimp, cut ladyfish and even finger mullet. The trout love shrimp or live greenbacks. Victor reported the snook action to be best at night around the lights of docks, bridges or passes. His bait of choice for the snook is a large live pinfish, threadfin, or grunt. Tarpon are still lingering in the passes at night and sometimes can be spotted during the day but most hook ups have been early morning recently before the sun comes up. Turner Bryan, from Madeira beach, reported catching a handful of nice speckled trout on the grass flats using live shrimp. Jill Peeples a local Redington beach resident fishes the north jetty of Johns Pass often with her husband. Jill caught a huge thirty inch redfish while using large live shrimp at the beginning of a recent outgoing tide from the jetty while her husband watched with excitement and bit of envy. Bryan Johanning reports the redfish are aggressive at slack tide inside Johns Pass and they were fighting over his D.O.A. paddle tail jig with a red jig head. He reported catching them till his arms were sore!

NEARSHORE – Mackerel are starting to show up in our near shore waters thanks to all the recent rain lowering our water temps. However, as we move into September and as the water temps fall into the higher seventies we will see the mackerel population in our area sky rocket as their fall run kicks into high gear. Gags are moving in closer as well, again thanks to the cooling waters brought on by recent heavy rains. Mangroves have been a bit tougher during the heat of august but using lighter tackle or small jig heads you can greatly increase your chances of getting this leader shy fish to bite your hooks. Red grouper are still biting well for us especially when drifting larger areas of hard rock bottom.

OFFSHORE – Jacks biting well for us offshore but the deepwater wrecks seem to be holding the smaller amberjack. We have found the larger amberjack to be biting well for us on the natural bottom in the shallower areas of the middle grounds in the 80-100 foot range. Gags were biting the best on small rock piles and they seemed to be very close to their sharp rocky homes busting off most anglers it took patience and focus to actually hook then successfully land these larger gag grouper. The mangrove snapper bite has been a bit picky lately but they have been steady. August is typically the end of their summer spawn and due to the extreme heat it requires a bit more work to get a large catch of mangroves. Using lighter tackle or jig head set ups are allowing us to overcome the slower bite. Kingfish while trolling has been doing well for us on our long range trip, and were even getting a few while anchor fishing and using flat-line setups. Occasionally picking up a blackfin tuna or two as well on the flat line gear.

Captain Mark and Dylan Hubbard
Hubbards Marina,
727-393-1947,
170 Johns Pass Boardwalk, Madeira Beach,
http://www.hubbardsmarina.com/
https://www.facebook.com/hubbardsmarina

Tampa Bay Fishing Report

The redfish are starting to school up already. As of the past week or so they have been eating as well. They are pretty dependent on the tide. The middle of the outgoing or the middle of the incoming have seemed to get the best bite. We have been catching them on numerous baits. From cut bait, to live pinfish and green backs. This is the perfect time of the year to figure out where the fish stage, so do your homework and make sure you are in the right spots. The redfish action is all the way from the south shore, to Weedon island and even farther up. The snapper bite has been pretty good as well, smaller greenbacks dropped down on live bait hook with a couple of split shots should do the trick..Get out there today to look for these schools seeing 200+ redfish coming at you is really an awesome sight.

Capt. Justin Lofaro
813-406-9722
www.flallamericancharters.com

August 20, 2015

Tampa Fishing Report

Inshore- Victor Vizaro from Seminole has been fishing local flats and bridges day and night. He reports the redfish and trout to be active on the flats right now. The redfish are most common and feeding most aggressively on live shrimp, cut ladyfish and even finger mullet. The trout love shrimp or live greenbacks. Victor reported the snook action to be best at night around the lights of docks, bridges or passes. His bait of choice for the snook is a large live pinfish, threadfin, or grunt. Tarpon are still lingering in the passes at night and sometimes can be spotted during the day but most hook ups have been early morning recently before the sun comes up. Turner Bryan, from Madeira beach, reported catching a handful of nice speckled trout on the grass flats using live shrimp. Jill Peeples a local Redington beach resident fishes the north jetty of Johns Pass often with her husband. Jill caught a huge thirty inch redfish while using large live shrimp at the beginning of a recent outgoing tide from the jetty while her husband watched with excitement and bit of envy. Bryan Johanning reports the redfish are aggressive at slack tide inside Johns Pass and they were fighting over his D.O.A. paddle tail jig with a red jig head. He reported catching them till his arms were sore!

Nearshore – Mackerel are starting to show up in our near shore waters thanks to all the recent rain lowering our water temps. However, as we move into September and as the water temps fall into the higher seventies we will see the mackerel population in our area sky rocket as their fall run kicks into high gear. Gags are moving in closer as well, again thanks to the cooling waters brought on by recent heavy rains. Mangroves have been a bit tougher during the heat of august but using lighter tackle or small jig heads you can greatly increase your chances of getting this leader shy fish to bite your hooks. Red grouper are still biting well for us especially when drifting larger areas of hard rock bottom.

Offshore – Jacks biting well for us offshore but the deepwater wrecks seem to be holding the smaller amberjack. We have found the larger amberjack to be biting well for us on the natural bottom in the shallower areas of the middle grounds in the 80-100 foot range. Gags were biting the best on small rock piles and they seemed to be very close to their sharp rocky homes busting off most anglers it took patience and focus to actually hook then successfully land these larger gag grouper. The mangrove snapper bite has been a bit picky lately but they have been steady. August is typically the end of their summer spawn and due to the extreme heat it requires a bit more work to get a large catch of mangroves. Using lighter tackle or jig head set ups are allowing us to overcome the slower bite. Kingfish while trolling has been doing well for us on our long range trip, and were even getting a few while anchor fishing and using flat-line setups. Occasionally picking up a blackfin tuna or two as well on the flat line gear.

Captain Mark and Dylan Hubbard
Hubbards Marina,
727-393-1947,
170 Johns Pass Boardwalk, Madeira Beach,
http://www.hubbardsmarina.com/
https://www.facebook.com/hubbardsmarina



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August 14, 2015

Tampa Fishing Report

Inshore- Brayton Ross from Dunedin was fishing with his brother and dad from Hub’s beach behind our gift shop using live shrimp on a slow outgoing tide around sundown and they caught a few nice snook. Victor Prieto and his buddy Ramon Rodriguez were fishing from the north side of the Johns Pass jetty in the eddy of the current. They caught redfish and sheepshead while using live shrimp and also saw multiple mackerel, flounder, and mangroves swimming the area too. Dale crook from Seminole was fishing the swash channels of Madeira beach catching redfish on live shrimp. Black drum are still being hooked under the bridge but are mostly breaking off the anglers using lighter tackle. There are still a few tarpon around the passes but they will be heading offshore soon to spawn and then head south for the winter until their may return next year.

Near shore- The red grouper are still out in the sixty to ninety foot range hunting the bait on the larger areas of hard rock bottom. The gags are pushing in a bit closer and were seeing them in fifty to seventy foot now. The shallower they get the more aggressive they seem to be so make sure to keep your hand on the crank if you are targeting those fat shallow water grouper with big baits. The water has cooled a little but the kingfish are not real thick yet in the near shore waters, but their fall run is in the near future. Sharks are still around the near shore waters but as the waters cool they will thin out giving way to the cooler water and larger shark species. Cooler waters bring the white sharks and makos close beaches!

Offshore- Our recent mid-week 39 hour at Hubbard’s Marina did well on the amberjack that were thick on the deepwater wrecks. There were also plenty of sharks making jack fishing challenging, but we were still able to nearly limit out our boat with big jacks. Last weekend’s 39 hour showed the same amberjack aggressiveness and shark issues. However, the grouper bite improved on the mid-week 39 hour compared to the weekend. The grouper were still picky on the mid-week trip but we were at least seeing beautiful shows and we did well on the scamp grouper in the six to eight pound range. The larger red and gag grouper were a bit pickier really requiring a long patient soak before they would take the bait. The water has cooled a bit offshore and that has the kingfish excited. We caught one monster king while trolling and hooked two more while flat lining at anchor. WE also hooked a handful of pelagic that simply spooled reels before we were able to turn the fish around or even slow them down. The captains attributed these runs to wahoo or the large smoker kings.

Captain Mark and Dylan Hubbard
Hubbards Marina,
727-393-1947,
170 Johns Pass Boardwalk, Madeira Beach,
http://www.hubbardsmarina.com/
https://www.facebook.com/hubbardsmarina

August 6, 2015

Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – The inshore waters have become quite dirty due to the enormous amount of rain we have had the past three weeks. Due to the darker waters the black drum and sheepshead are the more active inshore species. The redfish also thrive in these brackish murky waters and can be found using cut bait. We love to use cut lady fish and let them ripen in the sun before fishing. The smellier baits will help the fish find your bait in the dirty waters. The black drum love eating crabs so in this dirty water we recommend cutting the crabs in half and let them sit in the sun before fishing helping the scent to attract in the fish. Snook are still biting well at night and early morning on live pinfish around the structure. Were also catching them around the fish filleting tables during the day especially when the crew is tossing in the carcasses which chum in the fish and bait.

NEAR SHORE – The near shore grouper bite has been hit or miss. Our ten hours are averaging between fifteen to twenty five keeper red grouper. The gags have been a bit tougher and were averaging more like ten to fifteen of them. The mangroves are biting well too along with yellowtail, grey snapper, hogfish and porgies. Were getting large hogfish on either live shrimp or fresh dead shrimp and they are using half ounce knocker rigs with 10-20 foot of fluorocarbon leader to get them to bite. The triple tail has returned to the area hiding under the local floating flotsam. You can catch these great eating fish by drifting by the floating trash, buoys, or grass and tossing over live shrimp or small pieces of sardines. Permits are also back in the area over large structure and can even be found tailing around these areas. We are using live pass crabs or blue crabs and sight casting to these unique fish from our private charter boat. Sharks are in the area strong and are biting well. Our private charter boat while doing shark trips is catching 7 foot tiger sharks, 8 foot hammerheads, 8 foot lemon sharks and more!

OFFSHORE – Our 39 hour returned from the middle grounds this morning with a nice load of amberjack, snapper and grouper. The mangrove snapper bite was hot when we started and they bit well most of the night for us. When the sun rose the mangrove snapper bite tapered off. Amberjack were aggressive and loaded up on the large structure. We caught tons of them of a deepwater wreck and nearly limited out in one stop. We had 26 anglers so we needed 52 jacks to limit out and the trip ended with 48 of them in the fish boxes. The grouper bite was a bit soft on this recent 39 hour but we did get more than a dozen scamp, half dozen red grouper and a half dozen gag grouper. We also caught plenty of heads and tails like the porgies, vermillion and others.

Captain Mark and Dylan Hubbard
Hubbards Marina,
727-393-1947,
170 Johns Pass Boardwalk, Madeira Beach,
http://www.hubbardsmarina.com/
https://www.facebook.com/hubbardsmarina

Homosassa and Tampa Fishing Report

“Tampa…Well the rains have finally subsided here in Tampa, there was flooded streets, houses and vehicles over the past week. The water has receded and we are back to normal. The water around Tampa bay right now has a lot of fresh water in it..Look for the best action to be had with species that can handle low salinity. There is actually some good redfish action in areas like Rocky Point, as well as 4th street. They are eating cut bait, live pinfish as well as live green backs. With the south west wind the water will be high, so look for the mullet to hone in on where the reds will be. The Snook are eating as well. Look for them on a strong outgoing tide, and be patient, when the water is high you have to give them time to get out of the mangroves and drop in to the areas were you can get your baits. Usually the last two hours of the outgoing tide is good for me. Any point near structures,oyster bars, or mangroves are holding Snook. Live Green backs are the way to go. Don’t be afraid to chum them up with some lively Green backs to get them going. If your looking to eat some fish, Mangrove snapper have been on fire with a good push of keepers making there way through the bay. Any of the bays artificial reefs are holding some nice snapper. Drop a Green back or select shrimp down with a couple split shots, and a circle hook. You will probably run into a couple flounder as well.

Homosassa….With the rains we have had the trout bite has still been a little slow for me, I have been fishing the Chassahowitzka preserve all the the way up to Mason creek for redfish to make a full day of fishing. The bite has been strong using a combination of baits. Pinfish free lined with 1/0-2/0 circle hooked in the back near the tail, has been pretty unstoppable. Following that would be a pinfish with a Bomber Paradise Popping Cork, then lastly Cut pinfish or mullet. Look for them about 1/2 way through the incoming tide. Any point that has hard bottom with good flow, seems to be holding a few fish. The larger fish have started the push to the outer islands, I believe due to the rain. Scallops are still plentiful, by the end of the week the water should a lot more clear, making the scallops easier to find.

Captain Justin Lofaro
All American Charters
www.flallamericancharters.com
813-406-9722

July 31, 2015

St. Petersburg / Tampa Fishing Report

Inshore – Patrick Mcquiston from Tierra Verde was fishing Pass a Grille pass using live pinfish catching small gag grouper along the rocks and even a beautiful snook on an incoming tide closed to sundown. Don’s Dock reports redfish, sheepshead and mangrove snapper coming up on their dock inside John’s Pass while guests were using shrimp for bait. Gulf to bay bait and tackle shop says their guests reported catching some monster black drum inside Blind’s Pass. They also report hearing about large school of red fish being found around Fort De Soto park. Gulf to Bay bait and tackle guests also report the mackerel seem to have dissipated inshore and along the beaches but they are catching plenty of mangrove snapper along the structure. Gator Jim’s bait and tackle in dolphin landings reports big gator trout being caught in Pass a Grille. They also talked about snook and flounder being caught in the swash channels running parallel to the beaches even with the dirty water. Snook are biting well inside John’s Pass too on live pinfish. We are getting them most often early morning or at night while the water is moving or just when it starts moving.

Near shore – The gag grouper are moving in closer to shore. We are starting to see them in the 50-60 foot range. The red grouper bite is softer now, but they are still biting in the deeper near shore waters around 70-90 foot of water. Grey snapper and hogfish are still coming up on the half days fairly regularly when we could get through the weather to fish for them near shore. The hogfish are biting the live shrimp exclusively. The waters near shore are surprisingly clear for the amount of rain and weather we have been having which is a great thing to keep near shore fish biting strong.

Offshore – Unfortunately not many people have made it past the twenty mile mark lately. This is the dividing line we use for near shore versus offshore. We were supposed to have a 39 hour this past weekend but the severe storms, high winds, and rough seas prevented us from heading out on this long range fishing adventure. Captain Bobby Carter a Madeira beach commercial captain came back recently with a beautiful catch of Gag grouper, scamp grouper and red grouper. He reported 70% color to his catch which means besides the red grouper 70% of his catch was primarily gags and scamp. The commercial guys are mostly fishing 300-350 foot west of the grounds and elbow.

Captain Mark and Dylan Hubbard
Hubbards Marina,
727-393-1947,
170 Johns Pass Boardwalk, Madeira Beach,
http://www.hubbardsmarina.com/
https://www.facebook.com/hubbardsmarina

July 23rd, 2015

Tampa Fishing Report

Inshore- Andrew Savage, from St. Petersburg, and his son reports the trout bite is great early morning while free lining white baits into the surf from the beach. Victor Vizaro, from Pinellas Park, reported that the mangrove snapper bite is hot under the bridge and around the structure inside the pass. He was filling up on them while using live whitebait and small pieces of shrimp. The rocks along the south side of John’s Pass are a great place to target these quick biting snapper. Michael Bratton, from St. Petersburg, reports the snook bite inside Blind’s Pass and John’s pass is hot late at night and he’s catching them on live pinfish or grunts. Kris Stein, another local, reported catching some beautiful Tarpon inside johns pass using horse minnows and flare hawk jigs. He hooked seven of them but was only able to land two from his land locked fishing spot. In order to land them more often you really need a boat to chase them and avoid structure they can use to break your line. Redfish are being seen stacked in with the plentiful snook in the pass but aren’t being caught as frequently as of late.

Near shore- The heavy rains lately in the morning and evening have been making it tough to get people offshore. If you brave the rain and scattered thunderstorms the fish weren’t biting too well but as the weather has broken the bite has increased. This pattern should be breaking soon and as the salinity levels straighten out the fish should pick back up. The beginning of the week even the grey snapper on the half days weren’t cooperating but as the week progressed we had less storm activity and the more blue sky that we could see the better the fishing got. Surprisingly the waters aren’t too brown offshore yet but the back bays are completely socked in with brown rain water and run off which will be making its way offshore shortly. By the end of the weekend the waters should return to beautiful and our weather pattern should be becoming more normal which this time of year should mean sunny, beautiful, and calm seas.

Offshore- The gag grouper bite is going well in the deep water offshore. Our recent 39 hour found them chewing in 150-180 foot of water. The mangrove snapper bite is still going well and were catching some large ones as their spawning season is coming to a close. Vermillion snapper are also coming in very large for the same reasons. The kingfish and tuna are spotty but were still nailing a couple while trolling or using flat lines. The kingfish have been loving super light knocker rigs, and the best set up is a light j-hook head with a trailer hook connected with 40-60lb wire. Bait this rig with a dead sardine or Threadfin and let it drift down in the current until your drag starts screaming!

Captain Mark and Dylan Hubbard
Hubbards Marina,
727-393-1947,
170 Johns Pass Boardwalk, Madeira Beach,
http://www.hubbardsmarina.com/
https://www.facebook.com/hubbardsmarina

July 17th, 2015

Tampa Fishing Report

Inshore – The snook bite in the early mornings has been hot lately reports Jeb Grant aka ‘Smokey’ who is our first mate aboard our 5 hour half days. He’s been showing up early to work to soak a hand line for snook under the dock. We use 60lb monofilament and a 7ot circle hook with a live pinfish and let them swim freely under the dock and around the pilings and the snook have been gulping them up within minutes when feeding. The hand line gives you more control and less stretch since the bend of the rod allows the snook lots of room to break you off the hand line doesn’t and also allows us to quickly return the fish without letting him injure himself on the pilings or get over tired. However, we don’t recommend this to first timers it can be dangerous if not properly executed you could end up with torn of fingers or severely cut palms. The tarpon are still being spotted at night all the way till morning. Trout are active around the dock lights and on the deeper water grass flats. The small white bait is plentiful inside the bays and in the passes. It should be getting bigger and better soon and these are what most inshore species are hitting on most often. The mangroves under Johns Pass Bridge are very excited about these bait balls moving through and have been feeding voraciously.

Near shore – The snapper near shore have been biting well when the weather cooperates. Lately the tight gradient of high pressure around our area has been making morning and afternoon weather unpredictable and a bit explosive. These storms play havoc with the barometer and have been making the bite near shore tough and the rides uncomfortable. We are looking forward to a break in this past after this weekend is over. The grouper have been decent on the flat hard bottom when we can get out there to them and today’s ten hour should do well in the deeper near shore waters where the storms don’t have quite the same effect as they do in the shallower waters. Sharks are plentiful this time of year and are being seen and caught in the back bays, on the beaches, in the passes and often near shore. On a recent shark trip we were catching tons of decent sharks but even the four and five foot sharks are being swallowed whole by monster goliath grouper!

Offshore –9 Gag grouper are biting well in the deep offshore waters but seems to be few and far between and it doesn’t help to have guests using light tackle loosing monster gags. As soon as the first grouper gets into the rocks he starts his grunting and the bite is OVER for the entire boat. Every additional grouper that gets into the rocks exponentially increases the chances for the bite to shut down entirely. This is what makes grouper fishing from a party boat so frustrating for guests but especially for the captains since we know the fish are there and were even hooking them but guests are losing them to the bottom. Snapper are also biting well too and they are reaching the peak of their spawning season. The vermillion snapper are the biggest they can be this time of year. The warmer waters have brought more numbers of yellowtail snapper to our area and were getting some big ones. We even caught a yellow eye snapper on a recent 39 hour trip at Hubbard’s Marina.

Captain Mark and Dylan Hubbard
Hubbards Marina,
727-393-1947,
170 Johns Pass Boardwalk, Madeira Beach,
http://www.hubbardsmarina.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/hubbardsmarina 

July 8th, 2015

Tampa Fishing Report

The Tarpon Bite continues to be productive, although I am getting reports of the bite slowing down a touch. The best places to jump a silver king is going to be the Sky Way Bridge, and in and around Bean point as well as the surround beaches up to a mile off shore. Gag grouper is now open, and I am seeing some good ones come off of structure about 20-30 miles out off Egmont Key in about 25-85 ft of water. The deeper the structure the better this time of year. Inshore we are still catching decent amounts of Snook, get them fired up with some live chummers (green backs) on a strong outgoing tide and you will catch a ton. Redfish are still a little spotty for me, you can catch a few I just have not landed on a large school quite yet.. All in all summer fishing and scalloping is in full effect so get out there and have fun!!

Captain Justin Lofaro
www.flallamericancharters.com
813-406-9722
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July 3rd, 2015

St. Petersburg / Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – Charley Wynn, from Tampa, was slamming the mangrove snapper on small sand fleas under the John’s Pass Bridge. He was fishing with his son and they both were simply free lining the sand fleas into the current. Greg Richards, from Kentucky, reported catching flounder around the John’s pass bridge fishing the north jetty using shrimp weighted to the sandy bottom. Brian Johanning, from Largo, was also nailing the mangroves on small pieces of shrimp. Nearly every angler we talked to started by saying the mangrove snapper are thick! Bob Ceterko, from St. Petersburg, was fishing Fisherman’s Park on the South side of John’s Pass catching mangroves mainly but he saw multiple large snook and mackerel swimming by the plentiful white bait but he didn’t have the tackle to target the larger game fish. Radu Dan, from St. Pete beach, was also fishing the south side of John’s pass along the rocks and pilings for mangroves with white bait but he reported the speckled trout were plentiful and feeding voraciously around the evening time each night. David Reese, from Ocala, reported catching whiting often using greenbacks in the surf on the Treasure Island beaches.

NEAR SHORE – At the beginning of the week we had a full moon starting. This made our day bite at the beginning of this week tough. However, it recovered quickly allowing us to get plenty of fish Tuesday and through the rest of the week during the day. Our Tuesday ten hour all day caught over 25 keeper red grouper. We also caught mangrove snapper, lane snapper, yellowtail, porgies, black sea bass, grey snapper and more! The snapper bite has been going well through the summer thanks to their spawning season reaching its peak during the hot summertime weather. The hogfish are biting well again on the live shrimp. Jeff Sloan, from Tampa, caught a beautiful hogfish on his recent 5 hour using live shrimp. We also have been averaging a few of them on each 5 hour half day at Hubbard’s Marina.

OFFSHORE – Our 39 hours and 12 hours have been doing great offshore at Hubbard’s Marina. The red snapper bite is still hot and they will remain open until July 14th. Gags opened up July 1st so now we get to keep everything except grey triggerfish and greater amberjack. The gag grouper bite was a little slow on our recent overnight but this weekend’s 44 hour plans to fish an area that is an old family secret that we haven’t fished in a long time. We average tons of gags 60 head or more in this area so were excited to see how that trip does. Tune into our facebook page Sunday to see the results from their trip.

By: Captain Mark and Dylan Hubbard
Hubbards Marina,
727-393-1947
170 Johns Pass Boardwalk, Madeira Beach,
http://www.hubbardsmarina.com/
https://www.facebook.com/hubbardsmarina 

June 26th, 2015

St. Petersburg / Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE- Joe Drew, from Ohio, has been slamming large snook just before sunrise while using free-lined pinfish with 60lb fluorocarbon leader. He says the tail end of outgoing or beginning of incoming was producing the best as of late. Mark Freed, from Pinellas Park, caught a beautiful large black drum from the beach behind Hubbard’s Marina while using a large live bait next to the tide poles. Jill Peeples, from Indian Rocks, reported catching whiting and jack crevalle while fishing the north jetty of Johns Pass using live shrimp. Hector Mendez, from Brandon, reported catching pompano, redfish, and even some flounder over past few days inside Johns Pass. He was wading in waist deep water on the south side of the north jetty of Johns Pass. He said that the outgoing tide mid morning and the first part of the incoming tide in the early morning were producing the best for him.

NEAR SHORE- We are happy to report that the slime has dissipated or at least has moved away from our area. We are no longer getting that greenish hairy slime covered algae coming up on all our lines, hooks, swivels and baits so that is helping the bite tremendously. The red grouper are chewing like crazy, we recently had a 10 hour all day that nearly caught 30 keeper grouper, 300 grey snapper and porgies, 20 lanes, and 20 vermillion snapper. The bite is hot in the near shore waters to say the least since the warm summer time temps have the snapper spawning and the red grouper feeding on large areas of hard rock bottom. It does take some moving around to load up on the red grouper since we’re finding a few on each area, but the bite is steady and if you keep picking quality areas the fish will keep coming in the boat!

OFFSHORE– Our 39 hour returned this morning with a beautiful load of fish. The red snapper were biting well for us in the 150-210 foot range. We also caught plenty of scamp and red grouper too. The mangrove bite is on fire but they weren’t as large as we have been getting used to through the spring time. The beeliners or vermillion snapper are some of the largest we have seen in many years. The best bite is during the day for the red snapper and mangroves feed best at night! 

Captain Mark and Dylan Hubbard 
Hubbard’s Marina 
170 Johns Pass Boardwalk, Madeira Beach, FL 
+1 727-393-1947
www.hubbardsmarina.com 

June 19,2015 

St. Petersburg / Tampa Fishing Report

INSHORE – Christian Lett, from Tennessee, reported catching whiting on live shrimp on the outgoing tide while fishing under the Johns Pass Bridge with his father Michael. Michael Lett, his father, reported catching a cobia under the bridge while fishing the outgoing tide. The cobia hit a large live free-lined shrimp and was just over keeper size. Jericho Cooey, from Dade City, caught a large sheepshead under the bridge while free-lining a chunk of shrimp on a circle hook at slack tide. The white bait is pushing closer to shore as we see large schools of them pushing through the pass on the incoming tide. They are about one and half inches to two inches long right now and will get bigger as the summer progresses. The snook and tarpon action at night is still hot, and the dolphins are still following them taking down the stragglers.

NEAR SHORE – The red grouper bite is hot in our near shore waters. We are finding the red grouper closer and closer to shore. They are loving the strips of squid cut to imitate octopus tentacles. The cobia have been coming in fairly regularly so make sure to keep a pitch rod ready to go when bottom fishing. They cruise by looking like a shark and they will inhale live bait free-lined to them with 40-60lb fluorocarbon leader and 5ot circle hook. Once you see it, you only have a few minutes to present a bait before it will cruise on by never to return. You can also find them under floating debris or following large whale sharks that are fairly common this time of year.

OFFSHORE – The red snapper season will not end till July 14th on our federally permitted vessels. Gags open June first. The red snapper bite has been consistent in the 35-60 mile range in 130-200 foot of water. The main problem for us has been the currents around the recent full moon so were excited to get back out this weekend when we know the currents won’t be quite as strong. The shallower closer to shore red snapper have been picked through quite a bit so the shorts are more common, but offshore in the deeper waters were still landing beautiful red snapper and we have plenty more time left to go get them! Kingfish are still around, tuna are thinning out however, and were looking forward to a few cubera as their spawn ends and they start heading back north through the grounds.

Captain Mark and Dylan Hubbard
Hubbards Marina,
727-393-1947,
170 Johns Pass Boardwalk, Madeira Beach,
http://www.hubbardsmarina.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/hubbardsmarina 



 

June 11th, 2015

St. Petersburg / Tampa Fishing Report

OFFSHORE – If you go out of St. Petes, start due west and look for hard bottom. Around the 50-60 foot mark the bottom will have some hard spots you will see bait and bigger fish. Rig up some poles and bounce bait off the bottom. If you’d rather troll try a number 4 planer and a number 2 planer with a big gold spoon or silver spoon. This should catch the attention of King and Mackerel. Keep an eye out for little white birds because they follow anything that flashes in the water. Make sure you beat the heat of the day, when it gets too hot the fish aren’t as active. The further south you go the deeper the water. A lot of people start west of Egmont because there is a rolly bottom there, and trolling is good.

INSHORE – Lisa at O’Neils Marina has been getting reports that there are a lot of Tarpon are out there. Trout, Redfish and Snook are all biting right now. Shrimp is good a good bait to use for that. You can catch anything on shrimp so that makes it difficult to target anything specific. Live Threadfins are the best bait overall. Fish early in the morning and later in the afternoon.

BAIT REPORT- There is a lot of bait around. Head over to the Bridge by the Skyway and you’ll see tons of bait and people showing nets. There are also lots of bait if you chum with Squid near the channel markers. lots of bait. go to the bridge over by the skyway and you will see tons of bait and people throwing nets.

Lisa
O’Neils Marina
11150 66th Street North Largo, FL
www.oneillsmarina.com
727 320 9032

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