Guide bites
Capt. Josh Fritz (352-345-9304): Capt. Josh has been preoccupied with tarpon, doing most of his fishing in Hernando waters up to around Chassahowitzka. Pods of fish that were on the flats began to move offshore to spawn last week, though he expects many to return to the shallows this week, along with more schools migrating up from the south. Most of the fish he’s finding are between 60 and 110 pounds, though the biggest fish on his boat over the past week was 140 pounds. He’s taking most on live crabs, though he’s had a few anglers hooking fish on fly. Although he hasn’t been working the flats, reliable sources fishing inshore have been doing well on redfish and snook around outside hard-bottom points, mangroves, island shorelines and bars. The middle of the incoming and the start of the outgoing tides seem to be the best times to fish for both. Trout fishing has only been so-so, from what he’s hearing. Offshore, the mangrove snapper bite is solid in 28 to 55 feet of water, with live shrimp producing some big ones on rocky bottom. A few keeper-sized hogfish were snagged, though their numbers have been steadily falling this month.
Capt. Cody Albright (727-992-3918): Capt. Cody has been jumping off with good numbers of tarpon just off the coast as well as in the pass at the south end of Anclote Key. It’s a good time to hook a tarpon for those looking to score a silver king this season. The big snook are on the beach there for the annual spawn, with large live baits taking the biggest fish. Snook season is closed, so they should be landed quickly and released no longer than it takes to snap a photo. Gag groupers are out of season but they have been a blast to catch and release on the limestone bottom in 8 to 12 feet of water northwest of Hudson. He’s using live sardines and large diving plugs to take them, with lots of what would be keeper-sized fish being landed on his charters. Some cobias have been there, as well and his customers have landed some big ones. He’s finding some nice trout along the beach. He hasn’t been looking for redfish on recent trips but believes anglers will do best focusing on shady spots and using fresh cut bait. Under the shade of mangroves on high water and under docks from the Cotee to Anclote rivers are prime spots to leave a bait soaking for a while and letting the scent do its work.
Capt. Matt Cowden (727-534-6603): Capt. Matt has been finding good numbers of all three of the primary inshore gamefish, taking mixed bags of snook, redfish and trout on his trips along the Pasco Coast. The big snook are on the beaches for the summer spawn, with Anclote Key holding good numbers. A bonus has been large trout, which are cruising just off the beach and in the north pass there. He’s also picking up some big trout fishing sand potholes on area grass flats. Live sardines are a top bait for all three. There also are lots of tarpon just off the coast this year, and that goes for sharks, as well. Either provide some great sport for those using heavier tackle and have the stamina to land them.
Tackle shop roundup
The Rusty Bucket (727-645-6598): Capt. Bill says the redfish along the Pasco coastline are schooling and feeding on the shallow flats. It’s a great time to stake out and put a fresh piece of cut bait on the bottom, which will draw fish from down-current right to you. Sighting fish and throwing gold spoons is another good way to take them right now. Snook and trout are “staked” on the beach at Anclote Key. The snook have been a little picky over the past week but the trout are more than making up for it by actively taking live sardines, pinfish and soft plastics. There have been lots of houndfish and bluefish around the sand bar north of the Key. The sharks are there in force, however, and they often are ripping the small fish to shreds as his anglers are reeling them in. Tarpon numbers around the Key have been good, though they have not been taking baits as well as he’d hoped. The best chance of hooking up is to set out a live crab or sardine in front of a moving pod of fish.
Tarpon Trading Company (727-937-1488): Larry said it was a week of mixed reports, with some anglers striking out while others found some great action on redfish. One reported taking nine nice reds working spoils and mangroves near the Anclote River. Live shrimp was the best bait, while fish turned up their noses to cut pinfish, which had been working well the previous week. Tarpon have been around, though reports are that they can’t be pinned down to one place or time. Some have found fish on the beach at Anclote Key, returning the next day at the same time to find none. Another checking around Three Rooker Bar south of the island reported pods of silver kings popping up there. Just off the beach at Fred Howard Park is another spot where they show up. Some good reports of big gag grouper have come in from boats fishing in 35 to 40 feet of water. They are out of season, so they must be released. There’s a fair chance of finding a big cobia on the flats right now, with one angler scoring a keeper-sized fish (one that measures 36 inches or more from nose to the fork of the tail) just north of the Gulf Harbors channel in New Port Richey. The cobia like to follow pods of stingrays to feed on baitfish and crustaceans the rays stir out of the grass and sand bottom so check out any pods of them. Gags are off the table, but there have been some decent catches of mangrove snapper, hogfish and big grunts on rocks offshore around the 35-foot mark.