ALERT: Tarpon – The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Caladesi – Honeymoon Island – Anclote Island:
Anclote Island: The scene here remains largely unchanged, but there’s some notable activity with cobia on the flats. Anglers are targeting redfish, snook, and big trout, with live greenbacks being the preferred bait for catching sizeable trout. As water temperatures rise, redfish are transitioning to pinfish and will soon be exclusively on cut bait. Snook are piling up on the beach, showing a strong preference for live grunts, which they can’t resist. Additionally, small packs of tarpon are moving up the beach about a mile offshore, ready to bite anything you throw at them.
Honeymoon Island: This area mirrors Anclote Island in many ways, with more redfish sightings on the island’s backside. Snook are actively feeding on grunts and pinfish off the jetty, and dog beach continues to offer excellent snook fishing. Tarpon are currently in Honeymoon Pass in decent-sized packs, with the best bite happening at first light. However, today they seemed to disappear, much to the frustration of anglers. Snook are also thick in the pass and around the island.
Honeymoon Causeway: Snapper bites have slowed, but keeper gag grouper are still being caught on both bridges. Cobia continue to move through, and there are plenty of threadfin around these bridges. Interestingly, juvenile tarpon are feeding at night under the lights, so night fishing could be particularly rewarding here.
Dunedin Reef: This offshore or nearshore spot is teeming with giant mangrove snapper, though their response to chum can vary day by day. Kingfish and bonito are also in the mix, making this reef more productive than the Clearwater Reef.
Caladesi: For those able to navigate the skinny waters on the backside, high tide is prime time to target redfish under the mangroves. The front side of the island is producing the largest gator trout. Everything else is similar to Anclote Island, but the tarpon action on the beach is particularly noteworthy during big tide swings.
Intracoastal Anclote to Indian Rocks:
Spoil Islands: The quality of fish on the spoil islands has varied, with redfish sizes decreasing recently. Despite this, the trout remain large and consistent. If you can find a spoil island with a good mangrove overhang, you’ll likely find both snook and redfish, which are increasingly favoring cut bait.
Flats: The flats have been a hotspot for trout bites lately. While the redfish on these flats tend to be smaller, decent-sized snook are also present, so be ready to pitch a big threadfin.
Clearwater Beach Pier 60: Spanish mackerel are biting well, with live greenbacks being effective. Large snook are also rolling in, and cut ladyfish is proving to be a successful bait. While the kingfish bite is slowing down, tarpon are rolling around the pier, providing an exciting challenge for anglers.
Sand Key Bridge: Snapper fishing here has been disappointing, with an abundance of small grouper. However, night fishing for snook remains productive.
Indian Rocks Bridge: Mangrove snapper are biting well, with threadfins being particularly effective. Some impressive catches have been made here recently. The small flat on the bridge’s backside has also seen redfish activity.
Indian Rocks Flats and Docks: Dock light fishing has been outstanding, yielding nice-sized snook and redfish. Additionally, sizeable trout are taking three-inch swimbaits in this area.
Tampa Bay:
Upper Tampa Bay: Courtney Campbell Bridge has seen a slowdown, with black drum disappearing likely for spawning. Bigger snook are also moving away as their spawning season approaches.
Bayside Bridge: Black drum have moved for spawning, leaving only a few residential fish. Tarpon sightings are beginning, adding some excitement to this spot.
Gandy Bridge: Snook are biting well at the beginning of the bridge, responding to white bait if chummed. Straggling black drum and cobia have been spotted, though not yet caught.
Lower Tampa Bay:
Skyway Bridge: Tarpon activity has been low, but the mangrove snapper bite is on fire, particularly around the rocks. Bonito and Spanish mackerel are still active; finding bait guarantees a good catch. However, be mindful of dolphins, as they can disrupt your efforts.
Fort Desoto Pier: Bonito and Spanish mackerel are showing well, though dolphins have been a persistent nuisance. Fort Desoto Beach has seen small packs of tarpon, but dedicating a full day may not be worthwhile as activity can be inconsistent.
Tampa Bay Shipping Channel: Rock piles are loaded with mangrove snapper, and with effective chumming, you can reach your limit quickly.
Egmont: The pass here has been a tarpon hotspot, with large fish caught recently. However, today the tarpon vanished. Fish are being caught on threadfin during incoming tides and pass crabs during outgoing tides.
That’s all for today’s report. Thank you for tuning in! Don’t forget to book a charter at 714-661-6550, and if you have a report, submit it right here!
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