Guide bites
Capt. George Hastick 727-421-8644: Capt. George reports that massive schools of threadfin shad are spread out from around Weedon Island to Pinellas Point and the Spanish mackerel, trout and ladyfish are feeding on them in big numbers. The mackerel are busting the bait in deeper water that drops off grass flats, while the trout and ladyfish are up over the grass in about 4 feet of water popping baits on the surface. Casting a gold spoon to the feeding predators produced mackerel up to 19 inches and keeper-sized trout. A sunken sailboat a few hundred yards south of the St. Pete Pier had a lot of the schooling bait around it and when he pulled up close the bait scattered, causing a mackerel and trout feeding frenzy. On other trips over the past week, catches of redfish have been the norm when working mangroves along the Pinellas side of the bay near the top of the incoming tides. Fish from just undersized to 25 inches. On one trip eight or 10 reds were landed on live pinfish and sardines, along with a half-dozen snook to 23 inches in about 90 minutes of fishing. Tarpons are still around and rolling in the bay and mangrove snapper fishing remains strong. On one outing snapper were taking small live sardines and shrimp, with a limit of fish to 14 inches taken with just two short fish landed.
Capt. Chuck Rogers 813-918-8356: Capt. Chuck says the Spanish mackerel are schooling in big numbers in the bay, with fish along drops off sand bars and grass flats in about 5 feet of water feeding on schools of baitfish. Live sardines have been taking fish to 25 inches and you can catch as many as you want when a school is found. The trout are over the grass near the mackerel and also taking live sardines. He hasn’t fished for them, but he’s been skipping some pompano while running his boat just south of the Gandy Bridge. The bridge is holding mangrove snapper, as are docks and other structure. He hasn’t been doing any fishing for reds of late, but word is they’re biting on the southern part of the Bay on the east side.
Tackle shop roundup
Riviera Bait & Tackle 727-954-6365: Jacob says the Spanish mackerel are in the bay and chewing hard on small baitfish. Dragging a Sabiki rig in size 22 has been a good bait choice, as it mimics small baitfish. Cobia have been found on the flats off the Vinoy, with live pinfish or 10-inch plastic worms good baits for them. Tarpon have been feeding on the abundance of fry bait and snook have been on the flats just off mangroves, as well as around docks. Most have been smaller males. Shrimp is working on them. For the bigger females, fish the passes along the Gulf with live pinfish or jumbo live shrimp. Gag grouper fishing has been solid for those working the shipping channels off Port Manatee, bay rock piles, as well as the Egmont Reef and the St. Pete Reef. The redfish bite has been pretty good, with fish taking cut threadfins and pinfish well, though the trend now is that they are more willing to take artificials. Zman Diezel Minnowz have been a good choice. Fish flats near mangroves. Mangrove snapper fishing in the bay slowed a bit, but some bigger fish are being landed offshore in 60 to 80 feet. Chumming with sardines will bring them up near the surface.
Gandy Bait & Tackle 813-839-5551: Bill says customers are reporting that mackerel have moved into the bay in good numbers from the Gandy Bridge south. Some good reports of large trout came from anglers fishing around the north end of Fort De Soto Park, with live sardines and shrimp working. A wader there reported seeing pompano, though he didn’t hook any. Trout also have been taken near Shell Key. Mangrove snapper fishing on the pilings of the Gandy Bridge has been producing fair numbers of keeper fish on shrimp. Lots of reds are around, but anglers report they are scattered and hunting is required. Small and large sharks are showing up everywhere in the bay. The little ones are mostly bonnetheads and blackfins. Gag grouper fishing along the shipping channels and reefs in the bay has been very good, with trolled plugs doing the job. A customer who is a diver reported he was spearfishing off Homosassa and nailed a 26-pound gag grouper that was unusually fat. He looked in its mouth and half swallowed was a Croc shoe.