Guide bites
Capt. Josh Fritz (352-345-9304): The tarpons are here and Capt. Josh is on them, but he’s also making some time for redfish and snook. The big silver kings are just starting to pass through our local waters as they head north for the summer. Fish of 100 pounds are common, and there are pods with fish much larger. He’ll be working these pods through June, positioning the boat quietly ahead of the traveling fish he spots rolling on the surface and putting out a live pinfish, crab mullet or sardine. They are on the deeper, open flats, along the beaches and islands. Early in the day is the best time to spot them breaking the surface. For those who like to throw artificial baits, the Z-Man Mulletron is very effective on tarpon. For reds and snook, the incoming tides have been tops, with live sardines working well on them. Both species have been mingling with schools of mullet, so Capt. Josh keys in behind the mullet with a live bait to test the waters. Offshore, good options now are to fish 30 to 45 feet of water on rocks for mangrove snapper and hogfish. Both take live shrimp best.
Capt. Cody Albright (727-992-3918): Capt. Cody says the snook are showing up at Anclote Key and there are some big fish. They have not settled into the surf along the beach just yet, but rather on the back side of the island around mangroves, so he’s been focused there, using live sardines effectively. The redfish action has been good along the rocks, bars and mangroves north and south of the Cotee River. He’s been doing best when the tide turns out, finding small schools of up to 25 fish and landing several from the same school once located. There are some nice trout around. While scouting around Anclote Key, he spotted a number of big ones just off the beach. The tarpons are there, as well as many spots along the coast seeing pods of big ones. Lots of cobia are on the flats. They can be spotted when you motor around slowly and the water is calm. They like to trail rays and manatees.
Capt. Matt Cowden (727-534-6603): Capt. Matt has been hammering the redfish along the Pasco coast, with fresh cut bait fished close to the mangroves taking some nice fish. Trout fishing has been good, with larger schools common as they congregate for the coming spawning season. Capt. Matt encourages releasing the big females to allow them to reproduce, landing them quickly and handling them gently, particularly as the water is now warmer and they are more vulnerable when taken out of the water. We’re on the cusp of the great summer snook and tarpon fishing, both of which are on the sandy beaches and in the passes around these parts from now until July.
Tackle shop roundup
The Rusty Bucket (727-645-6598): Capt. Bill says windy days have been annoying but that it hasn’t slowed the bite one bit. Snook are showing up at Anclote Key, where they will spawn in the surf over the next few weeks. Large baits take large fish, with ladyfish and grunts what takes the trophy fish. They are out of season, though, and must be set free. Some tarpons have been just off the island, but better numbers are being found on the islands to the south. Live pinfish or a grunt set out ahead of a moving school produces. Redfish are hunting on flats. They are not always schooling, but the numbers of scattered fish have been good. It’s a good time to use cut pinfish for them. Among artificials, it’s hard to beat a gold spoon, which have the advantage of covering a lot of water faster, a tactic that’s particularly effective when fish are scattered. Cobia fishing remains very strong along the flats. There has not been a lot of keeper-sized fish, but plenty of them around 30 inches are providing good action. They’ll take about any lure, with heavier lures making long casts easier. If fish for the pan are the goal, the inshore and offshore mangrove snapper bite is on. Docks and channels inshore have been turning up fish up to 15 inches and the bigger ones offshore are in 30 to 60 feet of water on rocky bottom, where live shrimp and a knocker rig gets it done.
Armed Anglers (727-945-1808): Capt. Griff reports that anglers are reporting some good action on snook, including big fish. It’s catch-and-release only right now, but they are using live grunts on the beach and the back of Anclote Key or at Three Rooker Bar to take them. Redfish are around, but the action has been just so-so. Those working bars, spoils and mangroves north and south out of the Anclote River may want to set out chunks of frozen finger mullet for them. Trout fishing is a sure thing on the grass flats between the river and Anclote Key, as well as grass bottom north and south. Live shrimp or jigs with soft plastics get it done. Griff suspects the cobia are around, though the past week reports slowed. Hot spots recently included the pass between Anclote Key and the north sand bar. Plenty of sharks are here. Chumming will bring them to the boat with the advantage of possibly drawing in cobia. Spanish mackerel are schooling on area flats, as well as on the first hard bottom offshore. A few kings are being landed, with regulars continuing to buy trolling hardware like spoons and planers.
Tarpon Trading Company (727-937-1488): Customers are reporting lots of Spanish mackerel on the grass flats off the Anclote River and over hard bottom just offshore. Shrimp, live and cut bait, along with shiny lures take them. Trout fishing on the grass flats between the river and Anclote Key has been pretty good. Use a live shrimp under a float or throw jigs with soft-plastic tails.