Guide bites
Capt. Josh Fritz (352-345-9304): Capt. Josh has been putting his anglers on good numbers of tarpon fishing north of Hernando Beach. He’s making the run to connect with the pods of fish working the deep flats, finding plenty of big ones between 75 and 150 pounds. Live crabs have been working best, though when fish are sitting in holes early in the day he’s been doing well with Z-Man Mulletron soft-plastic baits. He expects the pods he’s been working will have headed offshore this week, though pods migrating up from the south should be taking their place and stick around through at least June. He got in an inshore trip, working hard bottom points and rocky island shorelines north of Hudson and taking several slot-sized fish on live sardines. His anglers got a couple snook, which were hanging out in the same spots. Backing off and fishing grass bottom 5 to 6 feet of water produced a few trout, though most were small. We’re at the time of year when a lot of the larger trout are on the deep grass flats in 8 to 12 feet of water, where jigs with soft-plastic tails fished near the bottom produce some quality fish.
Capt. Cody Albright (727-992-3918): Capt. Cody has been focused on fishing at Anclote Key, putting his anglers on inshore super slams (a tarpon, snook, redfish and trout landed all on the same trip). The beach along the west side of the island has been providing all four species. The snook have been taken on live pinfish and grunts, with grunts starting to become the preferred choice. He uses a quarter-ounce weight to keep the baits on the bottom in the current, which improves the number of strikes. The same spots have produced the bonus of some big reds, with fish up to 33.5 inches landed on his boat. The trout are cruising just off the surf line, as well as in the pass at the north end. These are some big fish, with live sardines a good bait choice. Pods of tarpon moving up and down the west side have been common, with groups of 30 to 50 fish not uncommon. There are some real monsters around and a fish estimated at 190 pounds was landed by one of his anglers in the past week. Live crabs and pinfish work.
Capt. Matt Cowden (727-534-6603): Capt. Matt has been hammering the trout, with some trips seeing as many as 100 fish landed. Pasco’s grass flats are loaded, and live sardines of jigs with soft-plastic tails will take them. When releasing fish, be sure to wet your hands when handling them to prevent wiping off the protective slime coat on their skin. The coasting protects them from infections and parasites. There are lots of tarpon moving just off the coast and they have been gobbling live crabs and pinfish. There’s some big fish around, so rig with heavy spinning gear. Sharks are everywhere on area flats, as well, with lots of blacktips, a species that will readily take artificial baits. A nice tiger shark was taken on one of his recent trips, a rare treat as they are not as common.
Tackle shop roundup
The Rusty Bucket (727-645-6598): Capt. Bill has seen a spike in the numbers of snook hooked over the past week, with fish getting more active as the water warms. Beach fishing has been tops at Anclote Key, where they spend the summer for the annual spawn. But don’t rule out creeks and flats along the coast, as there are plenty there, as well, hanging in deeper pockets along mangroves and in channels. The bite on these fish has been later in the day when the sun is lower. Live sardines are the best bait option. The redfish action has been solid on the flats, as well, with fish hanging around oyster bars and mangroves, taking cut pinfish, mullet of threadfin shad. Some big trout are around, with good catches made in deeper pockets at Anclote Key and around the north sand bar there. Live pinfish, sardines and soft-plastic swim baits are working well. The tarpons are here, though the numbers over the past week were better to the south of Pasco waters. Live pass crabs under a float drifted on the flats or off the island beaches is taking them. They also are taking live pinfish and small grunts.
Tarpon Trading Company (727-937-1488): Larry reports that customers have been taking some fair numbers of keeper-sized trout by fishing the grass flat just off the Anclote power plant outfall canal. Live shrimp under a float or jigs with soft-plastic tails are the best medicine. Other nice trout catches were made by anglers working the grass bottom on the back side of Honeymoon Island. The tarpons are here and there are anglers hooking them from Anclote Key to the beach and islands off north Pinellas. The pass at the southern end of Anclote Key has produced hookups over the past week. Live pinfish and grunts are good tarpon baits, along with live crabs.