Here is the latest fishing report for Tampa Bay area.
Everyone is saying the snapper are on fire, both in the bay and shallow Gulf waters.
Capt. Scott Greer of Stray Dog Charters out of Cortez Florida says he has been putting his charters on gag and red grouper, snapper, even catch and release red snapper, cobia, African pompano and evean an occasional true black grouper.
Capt. Tom Chaya of Dolphin Dreams Charters out of Anna Maria Island said that kingfish and big Spanish mackerel are feeding on the big bait schools throughout the shallow Gulf. He’s catching lots of sharks and a few tarpon while the big fish are feeding on schools of threadfin herring. There are also nice redfish populations in Sarasota bay. “Snook will make a better showing on the flats as the water cools,” he said, “and the best bet for snook is night fishing under the lights and all the passes.”
Capt. Zach Zacharias on the Dee Jay II out of Parrot Cove Marina in Cortez said the past week has seen “a decent amount of kingfish and Spanish mackerel running along the beaches of Anna Maria and Longboat Key. Stiff easterly winds have kept most boats close to shore, as the Gulf got pretty rough a mile or so from the lee. When the huge amount of bait fish that has summered in the Tampa/Sarasota Bay estuary starts pouring out into the Gulf in the next month or so there should be some top action with all the critters that pass by in the fall.” He’s finding the inshore fishing scene to be excellent for mangrove snapper, redfish, snook and trout. “Slot-sized reds are being found in and around dock and seawall structure from north Sarasota Bay to Palma Sola Bay and near the mouth of the Manatee River. Most of the snook that are filtering back to the estuary have been on the small side, but numerous.” Capt. Zach added that the best flounder fishing of the year is between now and Christmas, with flattie action really picking up in the past few years.
Capt. Sam Kimball of Legend Charters out of Bradenton on Cortez Road said snapper fishing is phenomenal right now. He’s catching snapper to 6 pounds offshore, gag grouper to 16 pounds, red grouper to 12 pounds, plus amberjack farther from shore. The snapper, he said, are anywhere there’s structure from 6 to 30 miles out in the Gulf.
Capt. Mark Johnston, also of Legend Charters out of Bradenton on Cortez Road, said redfish action is fair to excellent right now. He’s also catching keeper trout and snook in the backwater, while his offshore trips are producing mangrove snapper and mackerel.
Capt. Rick Gross on Fishy Business out of Catchers Marina in Holmes Beach said he’s putting his charters onto keeper-size snook and limit catches of redfish. For reds, the tides are playing a big role, with the best action coming on low incoming or low outgoing water.