With most of the waters north of Manatee Avenue being clear of red tide, anglers are anxious to get out on the water.
For inshore action, early morning seems to be the best bite. The water temperatures are slightly cooler and fishing just before sunrise until mid-morning is producing the best flats action of the day on catch-and-release snook, trout and redfish.
Mangrove snapper are abundant throughout Tampa Bay, in the smooth shallows and deeper water, too. Many snapper are being caught while anglers work the flats, targeting the inshore trio of snook, reds and trout. Snapper’s not a bad bycatch in anybody’s book.
Those wishing to solely target snapper are fishing wrecks, reefs and bridges, where the schools are turning up to feed.
For those venturing offshore, amberjack and blackfin tuna are the most frequent rewards. Trolling lipped plugs or free-lining live baits over wrecks and other structure is resulting in hookups on both species.
Capt. Warren Girle is targeting gag grouper and mangrove snapper in Tampa Bay. To find these species, Girle is working rock piles, reefs and wrecks. Live baits such as pinfish and shiners work well. Pinfish especially are working well for the gags. Depending on the depth, Girle is free-lining pinfish or adding an egg sinker to create a knocker rig and keeper-size gag grouper are being caught in this fashion, too.
As for the snapper, Girle is finding the shiners work best as bait. In some instances, the snapper can be chummed to the surface. In these situations, a free-lined bait is best. When the snapper are timid, using a small knocker rig to get bait to the bottom is effective. Snapper up to 20 inches are being hooked by Girle’s clients.
Capt. David White is working inshore due to some rough seas brought on by the passing of Tropical Storm Fred in the Gulf of Mexico. While inshore, White is enjoying excellent action on catch-and-release snook and redfish. Both are responding to live shiners and casting baits up against the mangrove shorelines of Tampa Bay is working well. Most snook catches are 20-30 inches. As for reds, all are coming in over-slot, with some in the 40-inch range.
For anglers wanting fish to take home for dinner, mangrove snapper are being caught as a bycatch while targeting catch-and-release snook.
Capt. Jason Stock — although having limited access to the offshore bite due to TS Fred — is managing to put his clients on some big fish.
On days when offshore fishing is accessible, Stock is targeting amberjack and blackfin tuna, which are responding to lures trolled behind the boat. On days when the seas are rough, Stock is spending his time inshore putting clients on large redfish. The reds are schooling, which can result in consistent action or at least enough action until anglers’ arms are too worn out to reel in another one.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier says fishing at the mouth of Tampa Bay is slightly challenging. There were patches of red tide that moved through the area around the pier, which moved the fish around. But it was a short-lived hiatus — anglers are finding large snook to be caught. And released. Larger baits — pinfish, mojarra or ladyfish — are getting the job done.
Mangrove snapper are being caught, although sporadically. But don’t be discouraged. These fish are expected to return soon to the pier — and the frying pan — in good numbers.
Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.