Guide bites
Capt. Josh Fritz (352) 345-9304: Capt. Josh has been on some large schools of redfish. They’ve been working rocky island shorelines and points from Hudson north. The bite has been best on the incoming tides, with live sardines or pinfish working. There have been a few snook on the same rocks. Offshore, the mangrove snapper bite has been good in 35 feet of water and deeper. Fish rocky bottom and breaks and put out lots of chum to get the fish fired up. Live sardines or shrimp will take them when the current isn’t running too hard. The clear water means going down to 12-pound-test leader about 8 or 10 feet long is needed. He likes a 1/0 hook. Capt. Josh says the scallop population is good this year, with plenty to be had in Hernando and Pasco waters.
Capt. Matt Cowden (727-534-6603): Capt. Matt continues to connect with good numbers of snook. Most of the fish he’s finding on the beach at Anclote Key have been smaller males, and he notes that some of the big females are moving into backwater, creeks and rivers now, with a few even showing up around offshore reefs. It’s still “shark city” around these parts and it’s hard to go anywhere off Pasco and not run into them. All varieties are around but blacktop sharks are among the most abundant. That species is known for taking artificial baits and often leaping during the fight, making them great sport. Fish 5 to 6 feet long have been quite common of late.
Capt. Cody Albright (727) 992-3918: Capt. Cody reports that he’s been doing well with redfish from Hudson to Filman Bayou near the line with Hernando County. They’ve been running oversized for the most part, with pods of five to 15 fish typical. He was surprised to find a lot of big trout in the bayou beyond the oyster bars there. His anglers scored several fish as large as 24 inches. He’s gotten into snook on the beach at Anclote Key over the past week, but also is seeing some of the larger females moving to the coastal backwaters and creeks. He also did some tarpon fishing on the deeper grass flats off India Bay in Aripeka, his angler landing two of three nice silver kings hooked on fly.
Tackle shop roundup
The Rusty Bucket (727) 645-6598: Capt. Bill says the very hot Gulf water has slowed the bite but those who get out early and late in the day (or at night) have shots at some good action. Get the snook early on the beach at Anclote Key and beaches south. The target fish are usually picky, but if you keep live bait, such as grunts, pinfish or sardines, in front of them for long enough, they will produce. The odds go up after sunset. Tarpon have been “hit-or-miss” up and down the coast but when a pod of fish is found, the bite can be great. Work the beaches and island passed with large, live pinfish or grunts under a float. Fishing them in canals around lighted docks at night also produces some. Capt. Dustin with FishNcrazy Charters reports a great red snapper bite in 125 feet and deeper. Some nice red grouper have been a bonus catch. Frozen sardines have been working, as are live pinfish and frozen squid. Mangrove snapper fishing has been productive in 50 feet of water. Live shrimp or live sardines have been working well.
Tarpon Trading Company (727) 937-1488): Larry says customers have been finding some nice redfish on the backside of Anclote Key, working mangroves there and particularly along Dutchman Key. Backing off onto the open grass flats there, some have been connecting with trout. He suspects that with the opening of scalloping in Pasco waters, anglers will find the fishing fairly disrupted, but if the grass beds there are not too crowded, it could be a good opportunity for some keeper-sized trout. Jigs with soft plastic tails or live shrimp are the preferred baits. Sharks are all over the area flats, with anglers taking blacktops and bull sharks. While the beach at Anclote Key continues to hold spawning snook, it appears some of the beach fish are moving into backwaters, with at least one angler scoring inside the Anclote River. Offshore, boats fishing rocky bottom with live shrimp in 25 feet of water west of the Anclote River have been doing well on mangrove snapper. The grunts are plentiful in that depth, as well.