Guide bites
Capt. Josh Fritz (352-345-9304): It’s tarpon time for Capt. Josh, who says the big silver kings are showing up on the deep flats just off the coast. The fish are moving north for the summer and can also be found off beaches, in passes and in deep holes on the flats. Live crabs are his go-to bait for them, but live pinfish, mullet, soft-plastics and flies also get it done. The redfish bite is strong right now, with fish on the outside of rocky and hard-bottom points. Live sardines are top producers, and incoming tides have been the most active time to fish them. Trout fishing has been good on the grass flats in relatively shallow water, but shallow rocks and limestone also hold some nice ones. Offshore, the hogfish action is slowing a bit but the mangrove snappers are stepping in to take up the slack, and there are some big ones around. Live shrimp fished on rocky bottom in 25 to 40 feet of water has been best. The water offshore has been very clear, so using long, light-mono leaders to reduce line visibility will improve the number of strikes.
Capt. Cody Albright (727-992-3918): Capt. Cody reports the tarpon have arrived in force and he’s been on them between Caladesi Island and Anclote Key. Pods of up to 15 fish ranging in size from 80 to 130 pounds have been taking live pinfish under a float. Over four days of fishing them, his anglers landed 15 fish. Breaking away in the afternoons when the tarpon bite slows, he’s been scoring reds in the shade of overhanging mangroves on high water. He’s been using live sardines to take fish 26 to 30 inches, landing a dozen or more from the same spot in some cases. The area between Gulf Harbors and the mouth of the Anclote River has been holding them. Snook have migrated to the beach at Anclote Key ahead of the summer spawn, and the passes at the tips of islands are holding them. Trout are there, as well, with nice-sized fish cruising in the troughs just off the surf line.
Capt. Matt Cowden (727-534-6603): Capt. Matt reports that his anglers are scoring snook, reds and trout with regularity, as all three are active and feeding well. Water temperatures have moved into the upper 70s, sparking the action. Trout and snook have been gravitating to rocky spoil islands, as they prepare to move to the beaches and saltier depths for summer. Redfish have been on the mangroves on the higher tides, with fresh cut bait like mullet or ladyfish producing best. The open flats are seeking more cobias show up each week and the tarpon are making their appearance, as well. Sharks are all over the flats, which is something we see every year as the water warms. They’ll be here all summer.
Tackle shop roundup
The Rusty Bucket (727-645-6598): Capt. Bill says the warmer weather has increased the bit with just about anything that swims. The cobia bite on the flats has been a highpoint over the past week, with fish spread out from Anclote to Hudson. Capt. Bill likes to troll through the flats, casting a live pinfish of jig if one is spotted. The cobias often are found behind a pod of stingrays, so finding the rays could result in a cobia reward. They also have been trailing big sharks. Snooks are on the beaches now, including along the west side of Anclote Key, as well as along the sand bar north of the island. They like big live baits like pilchards or pinfish or fresh cut bait. The reds have not been schooling along the Pasco coast, with anglers doing best working backwater, canals and creeks.
Armed Anglers (727-945-1808): Michael reports inshore anglers have been hooking up with tarpon, which have moved onto the deep flats from Tarpon Springs to Dunedin. Live pinfish have been working on some big fish. Snook season closed but the bite is good for those who want to catch and release. Fish have made their move to the beaches, including at Anclote Key, but they also are under the mangroves on the back side of the island and along the Gulf coastline. Live sardines are a good bait. Redfish action in the Anclote River area has been good, with fish under the shade of mangroves on high water. Many have been doing best with cut bait, including ladyfish, mullet and threadfin shad all producing fish in the slot size range. Trout fishing on the open grass flats in 4 to 8 feet of water is productive, with live shrimp and jigs with soft-plastic tails working well. Offshore, boats fishing rocky bottom with live shrimp in 40 to 50 feet of water have been catching fair numbers of hogfish. Hog Ball rigs have been popular. Mangrove snapper have been on many of the same spots. A friend fishing deep structure offshore scored a nice catch of the snapper, along with a couple of amberjacks. Schools of kingfish have been feeding on hard bottom just offshore of Clearwater and north to about west of Palm Harbor.
Tarpon Trading Company (727-937-1488): Customers have been reporting excellent action on Spanish mackerel, which have been ranging from the deep grass flats, the pass at the north end of Anclote Key and offshore on hard bottom. Grass flats north and south of the Anclote River in 4 feet of water and deeper have been giving up trout to anglers fishing live shrimp and jigs with soft-plastic tails.