Fishing Reports

OFFSHORE

Better weather this week allowed anglers to head offshore for some grouper, kingfish, and a cornucopia of others. It seems like the kings scattered on last week’s blow, but lighter winds with a slight switch to an easterly component could put more bait on the beaches for the holiday weekend. Spoons trolled on planers and flat lines are working well, but for this full moon week with tides running at a pretty decent clip, anchoring up and chumming with frozen chum blocks is a sure bet for bringing fish to the boat. Set out a live blue runner free lined and your set for some action.

Grouper have been caught anywhere from 40-to 140-feet of water off Pinellas and Pasco. Areas from Hernando to Citrus are producing some excellent shallow water action on gags. Depths ranging from 6-to 10-feet are predictably good. Cast or trolled Bombers, Mann’s Stretch lures, MirrOlures, and Rapalas are taking gags to 20-pounds.

INSHORE

The remaining days of the open season snook season could be prime in the wee hours just before sunrise and several hours into the incoming morning tide.

Negative low tides this weekend will be perfect for kayakers, canoes, and wade fishers. Look for potholes and channel edges to be very productive. It’ll be like shooting fish in a barrel when it comes to catching fish on the negatives…so go barbless for those closed-season spotted seatrout in the south region that you will undoubtedly catch and release. Trout in lower Tampa Bay tipped the scales at over 5-pounds this week.

Bluefish have been ravaging schools of baitfish and trout in potholes in Tampa Bay. Jigs worked quickly will give you a dose of the blues when you lose a load of jig heads to the sharp teeth these vicious fish have.

Whiting have made a good showing in the Manatee River along with redfish and flounder. Jigs worked on the bottom have been working well.