Guide bites
Capt. Chuck Rogers (813-918-8356): Capt. Chuck has been using the small, live sardines that are on the grass flats in the Gandy Bridge area to catch good numbers of mangrove snapper. He expects that bite to get even better this week coming off the full moon. Anchoring in the shade under the Gandy and dropping the live baits to the bottom around pilings is a good way to beat the heat. Use a 20-pound-test mono leader and a No. 4 hook.
The last hour of the incoming and the first hour of the outgoing tide has been best. A bonus catch has been slot-sized trout, which have moved to the deeper water under the bridges to stay cool now that water temperatures are as high as 90 degrees on the flats. While snapper fishing, large fish have broken off his anglers. He suspects these may have been big cobia or tarpon. Snook are on the mangroves and taking live sardines. Fishing a tournament on a Friday, his anglers landed fish up to 32 inches working in the area known the “Kitchen.” Redfish also are clinging to the shade of mangroves in the Gandy area along the west side of the bay up to around Fourth Street, with slot-sized fish typically found alone or in pairs. A live sardine with the tail cut off or a pinfish given the same trim is the ticket, as the reds don’t have the energy to chase down live baits due to the hot water sapping their systems.
Capt. George Hastick (727-525-1005): Capt. George reports he’s finding fair numbers of snook in the 22- to 25-inch class around flooded mangroves and under docks on the Pinellas side of the bay below the Gandy Bridge to Pinellas Point. Fishing good, moving water is the key to the bite. There are a few bigger fish to be had, with the odd specimen running 30 inches or longer. Live sardines are doing the job. To get the bigger sardines, net them around range markers or under the bridges in deeper water. The bait on the shallow grass flats is small right now. Trout fishing is decent on the grass flats in 5 to 6 feet of water. Grass beds with sand holes in them is where to fish, with schools around the edges of the sand. Live sardines or soft-plastic Sea Shad tails on jig heads have been his go-to baits. Sandy patches in the middle of the bay below the Gandy also are producing a few flounder, with fish 17 inches landed on recent trips.
Reds have been around flooded mangroves on the Hillsborough side of the bay below the Gandy down to Picnic Island. Live sardines or fresh cut bait is taking them. The creek mouths at the top of the bay above the Courtney Campbell Causeway also are giving up slot-sized reds on the same baits. Mackerel schools are still working the open bay water from off the St. Pete Pier north to near the Gandy. Their numbers are not as great but it’s worth chumming or scouting for the schools of baitfish on the surface the mackerel are feeding upon. His anglers have taken fish to 26 inches on recent trips.
Tackle shop roundup
Gandy Bait & Tackle (813-839-5551): Bill says customers have been trying to deal with the heat, fishing early and late in the day for the most part. Redfish are a little more hardy than other species in the warm water, and anglers have been connecting with them around mangroves on higher tides. Reports of slot-size fish have come in from those working both sides of the bay all the way up to Safety Harbor have come in, though Bill cautions that a lot of looking is required right now before finding a few willing fish. Trout fishing is pretty good for those who have changed their game plan to fishing deeper water. One regular who has been mangrove snapper fishing under the Gandy Bridge has been scoring some big trout in 14 feet of water when the tide goes slack. Live shrimp and small, live sardines are working on them, and the snapper. Snook are around docks and mangroves and anglers may want to start after dark to improve their odds. Spanish mackerel are still around, but with the very warm water their numbers of falling off quite a bit. Tarpons are still in the bay in good numbers, though anglers are reporting that the fish that have returned from spawning offshore are long and thin. The bridges have been the place to hook them, with evenings best. Offshore, many anglers are hesitant to spend the fuel dollars to get to the depths needed for red snapper. Those who have gone out report that 120 feet is the minimum to find good action. For red grouper, keepers have been landed from water as shallow as 40 feet, with action extending out to around 80 feet.
Riviera Bait & Tackle (727-954-6365): Jacob Jr. says the extreme heat of late has cut into the number of anglers fishing, but those who are going out are finding a good mangrove snapper bite, with better numbers of keeper-sized fish being landed. Fish are on all the bay bridge pilings, around docks and artificial reefs. Small, live sardines or shrimp are the baits of choice. Trout generally have moved to deeper, cooler water. Grass bottom in at least 5 feet is needed, and pockets of deep grass and channels are good places to score. Reds have been a bit sluggish, with water temperatures touching 90 degrees. Fish the shade of mangroves when the water is high, allowing the reds to tuck into the growth to beat the sun’s rays. Live baits work, though the slower-moving reds in the hot water are preferring fresh cut bait over live baits. Tarpons are still in the bay. Fishing the bridges at night has been most productive.