Things are changing quickly! Redfish have experienced significant changes over the past few weeks, and the same goes for tarpon. Stay tuned for this report!
Caladesi – Honeymoon Island – Anclote Island
Anclote Island: Things are looking up here! Redfish, snook, and big trout are all biting. Live greenbacks are the go-to for catching the larger trout. Redfish are now tucking under the mangroves on the island and are barely willing to eat, so use cut pinfish. Snook are crowding the beaches, and live grunts are the bait of choice since snook can’t resist them. Tarpon are moving up the beach and will hit just about anything a mile offshore!
Honeymoon Island: The north end has been the hot spot for snook action, but the south end has also been productive. However, the south end experiences a lot more pressure than the north, so I recommend heading north if you want to catch snook. The beaches of Honeymoon Island have been hit by large numbers of migrating tarpon, and these fish are HUNGRY! If you want a tarpon, now is the time. Just use pinfish on a float, and you’ll get in on the action.
Honeymoon Causeway: The snapper bite is starting to come alive, with many being caught on shrimp. Keeper gag grouper are being caught on both bridges, and there are lots of threadfin around, along with a good amount of greenbacks on the reef. Juvenile tarpon are feeding at night under the lights, offering a great nighttime fishing opportunity.
Dunedin Reef: The nearshore report is promising! The reef is packed with giant mangrove snapper, although their reaction to chum is inconsistent. There are also kingfish and bonito in the mix, making this reef a better spot than Clearwater Reef. I just took a charter a mile past the reef, and we caught some nice-sized red grouper, including a few keepers on live pinfish. You need to find live bottom!
Caladesi: High tide is prime time for redfish under the mangroves on the backside. These fish are very lazy and prefer cut pinfish! If you’re fishing the beaches, you need pinfish or big threadfins. The beach has been loaded with big snooks, and when they are eating, they will chew the paint off the bottom of the boat. When they’re not really eating, use finger mullet!
Intracoastal Anclote to Indian Rocks
Spoil Islands: There is less and less action on these islands. If the island has mangroves, there may be a few redfish around, but this is not prime time for them. There are still some decent trout along these islands. Snook have pretty much abandoned them for spawning!
Clearwater Beach Pier 60: Big snook have been hanging around the pier, and you can get them to bite very well in the mornings!
Sand Key Bridge: Nighttime snook fishing is the highlight here. If you are into swimbait fishing for gag grouper, the night bite has been amazing! The jetty has also been great all day and afternoon for bigger snook. Additionally, mangrove snapper are biting well.
Sand Key Park: Snook are all up and down the beach, especially around the jetty. When you locate them, they will usually eat on an outgoing tide.
Indian Rocks Bridge: Checked this bridge out yesterday; it was dead as a doornail!
Indian Rocks Flats and Docks: Dock light fishing is excellent, with sizable snook and redfish being caught. Trout are also biting well on three-inch swimbaits.
Tampa Bay
ALERT: Tarpon madness in the bay!
Upper Tampa Bay
Courtney Campbell: This area has slowed down a lot. There are a few snook around the bridges, but there are still redfish to be caught in the mangroves!
Gandy Bridge: Snook are biting well at the start of the bridge, responding to white bait. Some black drum have been spotted. If you fish around the inside of the bridge by the rocks near the boat ramp, you will find some smaller snook.
Lower Tampa Bay
ALERT: Pass crab flush!
Skyway Bridge: Big tarpon were biting a lot today, but mangrove snapper are hot, especially on the rocks. Watch out for dolphins. Bonito and Spanish mackerel are still active. The first big pass crab flush is happening right now on the outgoing tide, resulting in a great tarpon bite.
Fort De Soto Pier: Good bonito and Spanish mackerel action, but dolphins have been troublesome.
Fort De Soto Beach: Large packs of tarpon are moving through, but the action can be hit or miss. Yesterday was good for tarpon, but it’s best to stay tuned for more consistent bites. Have threadfin ready to go because this seems to be the key! If it is an outgoing tide, have some pass crabs ready because it is time for action!
Tampa Bay Shipping Channel: Rock piles are loaded with mangrove snapper. Chumming can help you reach your limit quickly. Make sure to do this on a slack tide!
Egmont: The pass is a tarpon hotspot with large fish being caught recently, though today’s action was slower. Threadfin on the incoming tide and pass crabs on the outgoing tide are effective. Some very large tarpon are moving and eating crabs, so stay tuned because it’s going down!
Pass-a-Grille: Great snook action off the beach on white bait. Just find some structure or a drop-off, and they will be there.
Tierra Verde: The snapper bite has been heating up on this bridge. All you need is to chum them up with some white bait. Also, the snook have been biting well here. Tarpon are also showing up on this bridge pretty well!
That’s all for today. Thank you for tuning in! Don’t forget to book a charter at 714-661-6550. If you have a report, submit it right here!
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